Call to scrap car parking charges

Macmillan Cancer Support said it was 'shameful' that people had to pay to park at the Conquest hospital when they had appointments.

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs both the Conquest and Eastbourne DGH, made 681,000 in parking charges last year.

Macmillan's acting chief executive, Judy Beard, said: "Cancer patients spend hundreds of pounds each year on hospital parking. Macmillan wants to see all cancer patients travelling regularly for treatment to be able to park free.

"It's shameful that cancer patients are still paying to park at hospital. The Government should step in and introduce stronger regulations."

Katherine Murphy, of the Patients' Association, said: "It is disgraceful that the NHS should exploit the most vulnerable people.

"It is totally wrong to take money off people who have to attend hospital and those who visit them."

Patients and visitors have to pay 1 to park for half-an-hour and 2 for two hours.

A trust spokesman said the revenue made from car parking charges went towards funding patient services and improving the car parks.

He said: "Free visitor parking is available in exceptional circumstances and visitors on low income can reclaim their travel expenses."