Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Backdoor Hospital Tax
Backdoor Hospital Tax on the Ill and/or Needy:
* Parking: £1/hour at my hospital (what's more annoying about this is how are you supposed to know how long you'll need? Can you get up in the middle of an operation and say "'scuse me, I've just got put a few more pence in the meter cos you're taing longer than I expected".
* Telephone by-the-bed: 39p a minute for off peak calls and 49p a minute at all other times for inbound calls.
It's difficult to argue against it, cos it's a hospital, but nevertheless, it's preying on those most in need. Just like the cost of presecriptions, which seems to go up every month. And to add insult to injury, I spotted this in a BBC report:-
* Parking: £1/hour at my hospital (what's more annoying about this is how are you supposed to know how long you'll need? Can you get up in the middle of an operation and say "'scuse me, I've just got put a few more pence in the meter cos you're taing longer than I expected".
* Telephone by-the-bed: 39p a minute for off peak calls and 49p a minute at all other times for inbound calls.
It's difficult to argue against it, cos it's a hospital, but nevertheless, it's preying on those most in need. Just like the cost of presecriptions, which seems to go up every month. And to add insult to injury, I spotted this in a BBC report:-
The University Hospital Birmingham said it received £1.5m in car parking charges last year - and paid its contractor Q-Park £1m to operate the car parks.So two-thirds of the money don't even go to the hospital! It beggars belief. How much does it cost to run a car-park?
