Parking fees to rise at Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis hospitals

Hospital bosses are considering four options ranging from a 10p increase to a 30p increase per time slot at the Sandwell and City sites.

While options for increases at Rowley Regis range from 20p to 40p. Residents will be given the chance to have their say on the proposals before a final decision is made.

Healthwatch Sandwell, which holds the hospital trust to account, said it was 'disappointed' by the plans.

But chief nurse Colin Ovington said the decision to raise charges followed the trust having additional maintenance and security charges for its car parks.

If the smallest increase of 10p is introduced at Sandwell and City hospitals, it will see charges rise to £2.70 to park for an hour, £3.70 for two hours, £4.20 for three hours and £4.70 for four hours. A 24-hour stay will cost £5.20.

The largest increase put before the board is 30p, which would see fees rise to £2.90 for an hour, £3.90 for two hours, £4.40 for three hours, £4.90 for four hours and £5.40 for 24 hours. The increases range from one to 11 per cent.

At Rowley Regis the smallest increase of 20p will see fees rise to £2.70 for six hours and £5.20 for up to 24 hours. The largest increase of 40p will see fees rise to £2.90 for six hours and £5.40 for 24 hours. These are rises of between six and 16 per cent.

Mr Ovington said: "Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust has the cheapest car parking charges across all Birmingham hospital trusts and we aim to maintain that position.

"With increases in rent charges for some areas of our car parks and additional maintenance and security charges, we will have to increase our parking charges slightly.

"During our board meeting last week we were asked to engage visitors and patients on three options to do that. That will happen before Easter with both face-to-face and online opportunities for people to give us their preferences.

"We have a number of schemes to help patients and visitors with parking charges including discounted parking if you need to visit regularly," he added.

Healthwatch Sandwell board member, Bill Hodgetts said: "We are disappointed by this proposal. We believe that patients, relatives and carers have more than contributed towards the car parking improvements. We urge the hospital trust to reconsider this proposal."

Details of the consultations have not yet been announced.