WYE Valley NHS Trust board has again ruled out any return to parking subsidies at Hereford County Hospital, despite hearing graphic evidence on the impact of “ immoral”  charges.

A petition with over 2,000 signatures against the charges was presented to the board this week by campaigner Amanda Attfield.

Calling the charges immoral she told the board of:

- An elderly woman hit with an “extortionate” bill having kept up a 24/7 vigil at the bedside of her dying husband.

- A woman with a husband in isolation for eight weeks charged for the up eight hours a day she wanted to spend with him  and having to reduce visits as a result.

- Patients deliberately missing vital appointments because they couldn’t afford the parking charge.

- Families fearing visits because of the charge or even going to A&E.

The trust is in talks with its PFI partners over the future for parking charges.

Prices were due to increase this year but have not as the PFI company reviews its sub-contracts.

It is anticipated that the sub-contract options will be considered within the next three months.

Though the trust has no contractual right over this process, it has been invited to work with the PFI company on which option might best meet the needs of users.

The board was told that “new national guidance”  issued by the Department of Health over hospital parking would have a bearing on this talks.

Board member Frank Myers suggested the trust re-consider a return to subsidising car-parking to be told that no provision had been for this option.

When the charges went up in 2012, the Hereford Times revealed that the cash strapped trust spent more than £300,000 on parking subsidies between 2008-2011 before ending the practice for cost reasons.

Under the 30-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) deal that got the hospital built, management of the car park is sub-contracted out over a 10-year term to Car Parking Plus on behalf of Mercia Healthcare – WVT’s contract partner.

The contract with Car Parking Plus is due for re-tendering in 2016.