[Sue1]

Parking in hospital car parks is difficult at the best of times and that includes for staff - some hospitals do not have staff car parks which could be a deciding factor as to whether you are going to take a job there or not.
I suppose you could say I retired over hospital car parking. It was decided where I worked (which was out in the sticks) that, for the staff, they would pay a set sum per month, can't remember what it was - this would be paid whether you were on sick leave, annual leave, or whatever. You would have no choice because it would be deducted at source. (This was thought to be illegal) One consultant resigned - hospitals often have visiting doctors - if they can't park, the patient can't be seen. I decided to go because I'd had enough anyway and went to work at the nearest hospital which I could walk to.
Patients have no choice of course. But sometimes I think the patient is pretty low in the pecking order and hospitals tend to forget their very existence is for the benefit of their patients. What happens if you are kept waiting for your appt - you will run out of time on your parking ticket and heaven forbid you should be admitted direct from an out-patient appointment. It is possible to reclaim the fine but if you are disabled, having got back to your car, realised you have got a fine which is no fault of yours, your misery is added to by having to go back into the hospital and fill in a claim form! All in all I do agree with free parking and designated parking for the disabled.