Hospital parking charges campaigner hands in petition (From Harrow Times)

Northwick Park Hospital parking charges campaigner hands in petition in Harrow

5:20pm Friday 13th July 2012 in News By David Hardiman, Reporter

Pamela Gershon (centre), Navin Shah (centre right) and campaigners prepare to hand in the petition last night.

A campaigner who spent six months collecting nearly 1,500 signatures calling for cheaper parking at a Harrow hospital handed her petition to health bosses last night.

Pamela Gershon, of Charlton Road, Kenton, presented her petition at the annual general meeting of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust last night, calling for increases in charges introduced last year at Northwick Park Hospital in Watford Road to be reversed.

The 86-year-old grandmother started her campaign in January as she feared patients may not be able to afford to go to appointments, and put copies of her petition in her local GP surgery, chemist and with friends.

Backed by London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, Navin Shah, she gave the petition to the chairman of the trust, who promised to look at the issue, discuss it, and reply to her in due course.

She told the meeting: “We understand that the hospital needs funds, but the car parks are owned by a private company which is making a fortune as I have exposed.”

She also questioned why an entrance to the outpatients department from the car park had been closed, forcing patients to make a long walk to the main entrance.

Last year charges went up from £2 to £2.20 for one hour and from £5 to £5.50 for five hours or longer.

Ms Gershon told the Harrow Times : “I don’t know if it will be successful. But the chairman did say they would look at it and discuss it.

“I got most of the signatures through putting copies at the doctor, chemist and with friends, and I haven’t been anywhere without it for the last four to five months.

“Someone said that even if it doesn’t do any good then it might stop them putting it up again, which is a good point.”

Ms Gershon, who said she wanted to thank everyone who had backed her campaign, has regular blood tests and check-ups for cataracts at the hospital, and says the charges penalise patients who have to park often for appointments.