£140,000 raised from parking fees

The Southern Trust began charging patients and visitors to park their cars in some areas of the hospital on August 7 last year.

According to figures released by the Trust, some 136,203 was generated from parking charges up to December 31.

It has led to accusations that people are being financially punished for being ill.

Details were released after a Freedom of Information request.

Currently the three car parks closest to the main hospital building, which are designated for patients and visitors, operate charges.

Trust figures reveal that around 30,000 is being raised every month from charges.

Some 19,375 was recouped in the first month of parking fees, followed by 29,437 in September.

Another 30,278 was raised in fees in October, 27,457 in November and 29,656 in December.

Craigavon is one of six hospitals across Northern Ireland that operate car parking charges. There are also plans to introduce charges at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.

Unlike the rest of the UK, those receiving cancer treatment or the next of kin of very ill patients do not have to pay for car parking at any of the hospitals.

However, there have been calls for all parking charges to be scrapped.

The chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, Matthew Elliott, said charges were “an unfair and unjustified tax” on the sick.

“It is an insult for the taxpayers who paid for these hospital car parks in the first place to be charged to use them,” he said.

“Effectively, patients and their families are punished financially for being ill – particularly if they need repeated or regular treatment.”

A spokesman for the Southern Trust said: "The provision of safe, secure car parking and effective car parking is a considerable cost to the Trust.

"The income generated through car parking charges helps to meet some of the costs.

"Costs include rates, maintenance of car parking areas, supervision/monitoring to ensure safety of car parking areas and effective traffic management, maintenance of equipment, cost of tickets and other consumables, start-up costs and labour costs."