White raises fees at First Minister's Questions
Increase in cost attacks NHS staff

Glasgow Kelvin MSP Sandra White today blasted the increase in parking charges for NHS staff at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, calling the rises 'outrageous'.

It has been reported that the cost for some parking passes has increased by as much as 62%, which will hit NHS staff who do not qualify for permits.

The Car Park, which is operated by APCOA was opened in 2005 as a PFI project presided over by the previous Labour/LibDem government.

Ms White, who was elected as the constituency member in May raised the issue with First Minister Alex Salmond at FMQs today after receiving numerous complaints from local constituents and staff at the hospital.

In response to Sandra, the First Minister said: "I know the member will appreciate that the PFI contract under which these charges were introduced, and under which these charges are contained, was unfortunately signed by the last Labour administration.

"Much as we would have liked to have adopted the same policies towards the PFI contracts as we did towards the vast majority of NHS hospitals under our control, it simply is not possible to do that without substantial expense on the public exchequer.

"It would have been great, of course, when negotiating the PFI contracts, if the last administration had paid even an iota of concentration on the protection of patients, staff and the public."

Sandra White MSP said: "This is an absolutely outrageous increase which is directly attacking NHS staff at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

"The staff at the hospital do an invaluable service to the people of Glasgow and being subjected to these kind of increases is like a kick in the teeth.

"In the last term of Government the SNP abolished parking charges at NHS hospitals, lifting the huge financial burden for staff and patients alike. Unfortunately, the Government are powerless over this issue as the car park is PFI project created by the previous Labour/LibDem executive.

"Not only do PFI projects costs the taxpayer millions of pounds, in this case this one is also costing NHS staff ludicrous amounts for travelling to work.

"Many of the staff have no other option than to commute by car such as nightshift workers.

"Today I am writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Health as well as the Health Board to request an urgent meeting to address the issue as a matter of urgency."