Free parking has been extended at three of Scotland’s PFI hospitals until January – one of these is Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The extension was confirmed by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman in a written answer yesterday:
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
25 September 2020
Index Heading: Health and Social Care
Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the car parking arrangements at Ninewells Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
S5W-32056
Jeane Freeman: On 30 March 2020, the three PFI hospital car park providers at Ninewells Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary agreed to remove car parking charges for staff, visitors and patients initially for the three months and extended further by additional three months until 30 September 2020.
The Scottish Government have now reached agreement with the three PFI hospital car park providers to extend the free car parking arrangements by a further four months until January 2021. This extension of free parking continues to support staff and remove the barriers to our staff working with the NHS during these unprecedented times.
Lothians Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said: “The extensions of free parking at PFI hospitals in Scotland until the new year is welcome news, but we need to see a long term solution to allow for free parking at all three PFI hospitals permanently.
“The lifting of parking charges shows that the removal of charges can be achieved and I will continue to work with MSPs of all parties to find a long term solution.
“This is now the second extension to the free parking charges without any clarity on what SNP Ministers are trying to achieve.
“Increasingly questions are being asked over the inability of SNP Ministers to secure a deal and whether value for Scottish taxpayers money is being achieved.”
There is no charge for parking at the Western General Hospital.