Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 March 2018
113. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his plans to issue guidelines to hospitals in order that all persons undergoing cancer treatment receive free car parking in view of the financial burden of car parking on patients with long-term illnesses and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13255/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarlier this month, I requested that the HSE to carry out a review of hospital car parking charges, with the aim of establishing clear national guidelines on this area. I expect that this review will be done quite quickly and I anticipate that the outcome will result in a more compassionate and fairer approach to parking charges which will see the financial burden reduced on patients who are visiting our hospitals most frequently.
I have also asked the HSE to engage with the Irish Cancer Society and other patient advocacy groups, in order to ensure that the review takes account of the circumstances of patients, particularly those who require long-term care.
