Hereford MP Jesse Norman lashed out in Parliament on Monday over the cost of parking at Hereford County Hospital.
But he was told by Health Minister Simon Burns that it was simply not possible to abolish fees because of a Private Finance Initiative which has 20 years to run and would cost millions to buy out.
Mr Norman, with the backing of fellow county Conservative MP Bill Wiggin, seized his chance during a late-night adjournment debate.
He told the House: “The charges particularly target frequent users, such as those visiting in-patients and those suffering from cancer, and fall relatively harder on the poor than the rich. The hospital trust would like nothing better than to reduce or scrap the charges for those affected, but it cannot because its hands are tied by the hospital’s PFI contract.
“A recent low point was reached with the installation of a new TV aerial in the consultants’ staff room at the hospital. A changes notice was raised and sent to the contractor.
Twelve weeks later it was costed at the princely sum of £819 plus VAT, or a grand total of £963 – almost £1,000 for a TV aerial. That is the reality of public contracting in the UK today.”
He added: “The car park is managed not by PFI contract company Mercia or by its contractor Sodexo, but by Sodexo’s subcontractor, CP Plus, in effect creating a treble mark-up on the deal.”
“Is it any surprise that the citizens of Herefordshire are paying so much for car parking, or that so little progress has been made to fix the problem, despite the trust’s best efforts? Is it any surprise that cost inflation in the NHS has been running at twice the national level?”
Health Minister Simon Burns said a report on parking at Hereford hospital was due to be released shortly. The next increase has been put on hold and the report was expected to recommend that concessions be better displayed.
He said: “The quality of care inside the hospital is excellent. However, the service provided outside presents a real and pressing concern for patients, visitors and staff.
“Unfortunately, the cost to the trust of buying back the car parking element of the contract to 2032 has been calculated at some £7 million which is prohibitive given the dire state of public finances.”
He added: “The hospital offers concessionary parking for different types of user. For example, a range of discounts is available to those who use the car park frequently, to the disabled and to a wide range of people on benefits or low incomes.
“The trust is also investigating alternative transport initiatives to encourage staff and patients to use public transport.”
Hereford hospital was started in 1999 and was one of the earliest projects undertaken through the PFI. It was built, and is owned and managed under a 30-year contract, through Mercia Healthcare.
The total cost of the project has been about £93 million. In return the hospital trust pays a unitary sum every year, currently about £15 million, which covers all costs – both capital and services.