Patients and NHS staff have saved over £13 million since car parking charges were abolished at a range of Scottish hospitals.
Since 2009, parking was made free for patients, visitors and staff at Perth Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, seven hospitals in Glasgow, two hospitals in Edinburgh and one in Livingston.
Charges were previously applied and were capped at £3 per day. Three car parks operated under Private Finance Initiative contracts at Ninewells in Dundee, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh still have charges.
Health secretary Alex Neil said: “In Scotland, we are sticking by the founding principles of the NHS we want services that are free for everyone, not out to make profits.
“Charging to park at hospital was an unneeded financial burden on families and those needing treatment at a difficult time.
“Boards have also worked hard over the past four years to put plans in place for addressing potential increases in demand, the promotion of greener transport and the possible misuse of spaces by commuters or others.
“I would like to be able to abolish charging at the three PFI car parks too but, unfortunately, these boards are locked into long-term contracts with operators.
“That is why this Government is committed to new models of funding which mean that the private sector can’t make excessive profits at the taxpayers’ expense.”
Outpatients and visitors enjoy free parking at PRI but NHS Tayside has introduced a new permit scheme for staff to deal with parking congestion.
There are charges to park at Ninewells because of a 30-year private finance deal signed in 1999 to fund the hospital’s multi-storey car park. Operator Vinci Park Holdings took over the agreement from Impregilo in 2002.