HOSPITAL car park spaces at South West acute Hospital (SWAH) will cost 70 pence per hour from this Monday, August 11.

One hundred and eighty seven spaces at the hospital will be subject to the charge, but some exemptions will apply.

UUP Councillor Raymond Farrell raised the issue at Monday night’s Council meeting, saying: “I am opposed to charges at hospitals or health centres.” He said that Fermanagh District Council has been “very pro-active” in directing their concerns to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. “We took the lead in writing to all Councils in Northern Ireland to join us in opposition to charges in hospital car parks; there are a few Councils that should hang their heads in shame.” He continued: “When you see places like Scotland and Wales where you can get free car parking spaces it is disgusting that the Executive can consider this as an option.” Councillor Farrell called for the Council to write to the Western Health and Social Care Trust to clarify who is exempt from these charges.

Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas O’Reilly proposed that Elaine Way, Chief Executive of the Western Trust (above) be invited to the Council to discuss this and other issues such as nurses not being paid on time due to the centralisation of payroll to the Business Services organisation.

“It would be cheaper to get a taxi to hospital than to take your car and sit for a few hours. When people visit hospital, the last thing they need to be thinking about it going out to pay for their car or whether they are eligible for exemptions.” Councillors agreed unanimously to invite Elaine Way to meet the Council.