A POLL conducted by the Border Telegraph and Peeblesshire News has found that 84% of readers don't think they should have to pay to park their car at Hospital.

Over 500 of our readers voted, and many have got in touch to air their views.

Lynne Pryde said: "Definitely should be free for patients. You don't pay to park at the doctors surgery or the dentist so why the hospital? If they feel the need to charge then a £1 max for visitors."

Dawn Brown said: "Free for first four hours then, if you've been there longer for medical reasons, ticket can be exempted by medical staff."

Dave Yule said: "Should be free for all medical staff, time limit for patients 'then charge a nominal amount after that."

Chris Turner said: "It should definitely be free for staff and patients with no time limit, but put a time limit on everyone else. Imagine going in as a patient, they find something serious while checking you out, and your car overstays the 4 hour limit and you come out to an invoice on your windscreen. As if going into hospital wasn't stressful enough!"

Raymond Kerr said: "We pay a lot for our NHS in TAX and NI, why should we pay a stealth tax, rural areas like ours which are poorly serviced by bus links requires us to travel by car. Expand the car parks to make them fit for purpose."

Toni Higgs said: "Free. People don't go to the hospital by choice. It's bad enough being ill or having an ill relative or close friend and having to pay to visit them or to go to appointments or day procedures for yourself or them."

Karen Walker said: "Should it be free? But then you get everyone parking where they want on kerb sides etc and have no consideration for ambulances etc. Wouldn't mind if people just parked instead of parking wherever they want."

Gordon Greene said: "Definitely free. You've got more to worry about when going to hospital than having to remember to top up a horrendous hourly parking fee (i.e. a relative at deaths door). Just another rip off Stealth Tax."

Maggie Allinson said: "It should be free, nobody goes to hospital for fun! the car parking has been inadequate from day one at BGH, there should have been a multi storey from the start."

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Send your letters to Border Telegraph/Peeblesshire News, 32B Market Street, Galashiels, TD1 3AA.

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