Parking charges had already suspended at the three hospital since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Free parking for hospital workers in Scotland has today moved a step closer.
Hospital parking charges are set to end permanently in Scotland after agreements were reached to buy tout two car parks in Glasgow and Dundee operated through PFI (private finance initiative) schemes.
Negotiations are also progressing to take over the last remaining PFI car park in Scotland at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, with an agreement expected to be reached in the coming months.
Parking charges have been suspended at the three hospital PFI facilities since the start of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The agreements to take the car parks into public hands will mean this becomes permanent.
The new Scottish Government previously pledged to take steps to end hospital parking charges permanently at PFI sites in Scotland during its first 100 days.
In England, NHS Trusts rapidly started to introduce car parking charges to hospital sites despite a pledge in the NHS People Plan to maintain free parking for the duration of the pandemic.
A debit of gratitude.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I am delighted to announce that these facilities will come into public hands and help phase out the legacy of PFI in hospital car parks in Scotland.
“We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our NHS workforce for their heroic efforts throughout the pandemic and this will ensure that, along with patients and visitors using our hospitals, they will not face the prospect of parking charges returning.
“There are no car parking changes in place at any hospitals after this Scottish Government secured an arrangement to suspend these at the three PFI sites at the start of the pandemic. Charges at other NHS car parks had already been abolished by this Government.
“This announcement shows we are determined to ensure they will not return at any PFI site in Scotland.
“Talks are progressing well with the owners of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh site and I am hopeful of reaching an agreement in due course. As this progresses we will be keeping the car park at the hospital free while the final agreement is reached.”
NHS Lothian Deputy Chief Executive, Jim Crombie added; “We look forward to the completion of negotiations with our PFI provider to end parking charges on our sites permanently and are grateful for the funding that enables staff and patients to continue to park free of charge in the meantime.”
