Marie Curie comment on Scotland Workplace Parking Levy
Comment published
In response to the proposal to include a Workplace Parking Levy in the Transport (Scotland) Bill, Richard Meade, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scotland, Marie Curie, said:
Marie Curie would like to see hospices exempt from the proposed Workplace Parking Levy when it is introduced in the Transport (Scotland) Bill. The Government has already promised to exclude NHS premises from the Levy and we believe hospices should be treated the same.
With over 50 staff parking spaces at our Glasgow hospice and 10 at our Edinburgh hospice this could be a significant cost for the charity, which will need to be met by either our fundraised income or our staff. Our hospices provide 24 hour care and support with a range of staff including nurses, healthcare assistants, cleaners and kitchen staff relying on their cars to get to work. Public transport isn’t always convenient, especially overnight. We work in partnership with the NHS in Scotland to deliver care and support to over 8,600 people living with a terminal illness and their families every year.
Hospices are facing increasing costs year-on-year and we are calling on MSPs to ensure that this is one less we have to face.
Updated
Notes to editor
ABOUT MARIE CURIE – care and support through terminal illness
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.
Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS. mariecurie.org.uk