REMOVING parking charges from the ERI would be a disaster for the health board and patients, NHS Lothian has warned.
Health bosses said they had already noticed a rise in complaints after the tariffs were abolished at the Western General and St John's Hospital in Livingston.
In a response to an MSP who wants all NHS facilities to have free parking, the health b
oard said removing them from Little France would cause even more problems.
Director of facilities John Jack said in his response to the consultation that it wasn't the duty of any NHS board to provide free parking at sites and it was more focused on people's health and standards of care.
In order to scrap charges at the ERI, the firm that built the hospital and controls the car park Consort previously demanded £14.5 million, a figure MSPs and health chiefs baulked at.
Mr Jack said: "We disagree with this proposal as the effective use of our property towards the delivery of healthcare requires us to retain the flexibility of use.
"Our experience is that the removal of parking charges, and the consequent increase in car usage, has had a detrimental effect on patient and staff access as parking charges previously had a disincentive effect on single occupancy car use.
"It is also worth noting that we have seen a significant increase in complaints in relation to poor access and/or inconvenience when attending hospital sites (since charges were scrapped]."
The Scottish Government announced last year that parking charges at most hospitals – excepting those built under PFI like the ERI – would be abolished.
Privately, NHS Lothian chiefs were angry at the move because it could have turned the Western and St John's into virtual park-and-ride facilities.
While those fears haven't quite been proved at the Western, in West Lothian, the story is different. Last week the Evening News revealed how chaos now reigns at the car park where shoppers leave their cars and travel to the many nearby shopping centres, leaving patients and visitors struggling to find a space.
While checks are being run by hospital staff, it is difficult to pin down and then punish culprits.
In his reaction to Glasgow Springburn MSP Paul Martin's bill, Mr Jack added that NHS Lothian was more committed to sustainable development, reduction of carbon emissions, improving public health and bettering provision of health care.
Mr Martin said: "Three of Scotland's biggest hospitals still charge for patients, visitors and staff to park. Adequate public transport links and improved parking facilities must be part of any future NHS care."
