Red Republic

Colin Fox, co-convenor of the Scottish Socialist Party and former Lothians MSP, tonight called for the extension of the SNP Governments proposal to abolish NHS hospital car park fees to include the crucial Scottish PFI built hospitals.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Royal Infirmary’s and Ninewells in Dundee, all Private Financial Initiative built hospitals, will continue to operate private profit car parks.

Colin, a campaigner against PFI private finance of public facilities from before the first brick was laid at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary hospital, said this evening;

“It will come as a blessed relief for thousands of Scots that they will no longer have to pay to park their car when they visit sick family and friends.
“For thousands of us, though, the iniquity of the Private Finance Initiative hospitals will sicken us yet another time.
“Private car park charges are to continue in 3 of Scotland’s biggest hospitals; Glasgow and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary’s and at Ninewells in Dundee.
“The Scottish Socialists welcome the SNP government’s realisation that this issue has caused great resentment amongst NHS patients and their families but we want to know why the PFI hospitals were excluded.
“Every NHS patient and family who will continue to pay private car park costs will echo the call of the SSP to force PFI hospitals to end private profiteering from the sick.”