It’s been widely reported that the Health Secretary, Andy Burnham has outlined proposals to phase out hospital parking charges for inpatients and some outpatients which he says have caused “great resentment”.  

He pledged a “fairer” system for relatives and friends of people admitted to hospital in England. But, cynics have claimed that it is a general election ploy, and that he is also reneging on previous promises; when it appeared that he would go much further at the time of the Labour Party Conference.  

The Health Secretary’s announcement comes on the same that it was disclosed that parking revenues for University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust (UHB) were £1.93million for 2007-08 and increased to £1.95million the following year. 

Cash made from parking fees was then pumped into paying off the new £545million ‘super-hospital’ in Edgbaston, Trust bosses admitted. 

The information was obtained by the Birmingham Mail who requested it through a Freedom of Information request to UHB, which runs Edgbaston’s Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak hospitals, after bosses did not disclose parking profits in a national round-up of all hospitals by the Liberal Democrats earlier this year. 

It is only second behind Heart of England Foundation Trust, which made £2.43million in 2007-08 from parking, but runs three large hospitals of Heartlands, Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope and Solihull. 

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: “This is a staggering amount of money for UHB to be making from car parking charges. 

“Many hospitals are still not offering real discounts to those with chronic illnesses and are effectively operating a tax on the sick. 

“No one is denying the need for hospitals in Birmingham to cover their costs, but that doesn’t mean they can use hidden charges to help get out of financial black holes. 

“The Government and ministers must ensure that guidelines are being followed.” 

A UHB Trust spokesman said the figure included car parking revenue for visitors and staff and added: “The income includes car parks managed by the Trust, some of which are shared with Birmingham Women’s Hospital and nearby Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust. 

“Income from parking charges is collected and received by a private company as part of a Private Finance Initiative. The income collected reduces the Trust annual payments for the new hospital. 

“It is also used to maintain safe and welcoming car parks, including 24 hour manned security and CCTV plus construction and staffing of current and new car parks.”