Wales to axe hospital parking fees

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The Welsh Assembly Government's Health Minister Edwina Hart has confirmed the move, the first of its kind in the UK, which will see charges scrapped or reduced.

NHS trusts which do not have contracts with private companies are to stop charging patients, visitors and staff from April 1 - the same date free prescriptions started in Wales last year.

Those with private car parking contracts are to be told to reduce costs until the contracts expire.

By 2011, only four hospitals in Wales out of a total of 130 are expected to still be charging for parking because they have long-term contracts in place.

The British Medical Association said it was "delighted" about the announcement but warned that free car parking spaces at hospitals could be abused.

Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh Secretary of the BMA, said: "The BMA has campaigned on this issue for some time and believe that it unfairly penalised patients.

"I have no doubt that all those who use hospital services in Wales will be pleased with this announcement and the BMA is delighted to hear this good news.

"We appreciate that it will take some time for private parking contracts to expire across trusts in Wales, but this remains good news for patients, their relatives and staff alike.

"It is, however, important that parking facilities are maintained and secured for the benefit of those that properly use our hospital services and are not otherwise abused, and that is the legitimate responsibility for trusts themselves."