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Patients face paying to park at three Kent GP surgeries under “outrageous” new plans drawn up by health bosses.
Whitstable Medical Practice – which runs a trio of practices across the area – will be launching a £1 for four hours fee at its Chestfield facility at the start of April.
Bosses will then roll out the scheme across its other two sites, Estuary View and Whitstable Health Centre.
But patients of the Chestfield facility have blasted the scheme, while the chairman of the neighbouring Whitstable Rugby Club fears surgery users will use its car park to avoid the fee.
Medical practice boss Dr John Ribchester says the measure is a “last resort” as the charges are needed to help fund a £1.25 million overflow car park at Estuary View.
Speaking to KentOnline, he said: “This is a situation where we feel we have a gun to our heads.
“We did not want to introduce it at any price.”
Last week, Whitstable Medical Practice unveiled the “small parking charge” in a message sent to patients.
Starting on April 1, Chestfield Medical Centre users will have to pay £1 to park at the site for up to four hours.
There will be some exemptions, including for Blue Badge holders and a 10-minute grace period for drop-offs, while some regular users of the facility will be entitled to free parking on a case-by-case basis.
Dr Ribchester claims users of the neighbouring Whitstable Rugby Club and neighbouring Smash Padel have been using spaces at the Chestfield Medical Centre.
“[The rugby club] has inadequate parking and a number of the spaces are small, so people using the padel courts use patients’ spaces,” he said.
“Frail elderly people or mums with children need to park to get to their appointment, but they can’t.”
But Whitstable Rugby Club chairman Calvin Smith revealed yesterday he was seeking legal advice on the “ill-thought-out” measures.
“Medical centre patients have to come through our car park to get there,” he said.
“If they start charging them, patients are going to park in our spaces and we will have to bring in a scheme.
“It will have cost implications, but also make us unpopular by bringing in ANPR or a barrier.
“It is something we really don’t want to do.”
Mr Smith fears the measures at the adjacent surgery could lead to parking spaces being occupied by patients.
“Our customers will stop visiting the burger van, or stop coming to Smash Padel,” he added.
KentOnline spoke to patients about the incoming measures at Chestfield Medical Centre yesterday.
Former tree surgeon Iain Thompson, 58, branded the charges “outrageous”.
“It would be different if it were a shop – it’s a doctor’s surgery,” he said.
“You’re not coming here for pleasure, you’re coming here for your health.
“I have bowel cancer and I have a stoma. I’ve just come out of hospital from having it reversed, but the reversal failed, so I’m on my second stoma now.”
Mr Thompson says he claims Personal Independence Payment, which is £70 a week, but had worked all his life until his diagnosis two years ago.
“I have to wear shorts because of hernias and can’t have any pressure on the stoma, so I’ve got the heating cranked up as I’m at home all day,” he added.
“It is another £4 or £5 I’ve got to find a week. How can I afford that?”
Margate Albin, 69, says she is “annoyed” about the scheme.
“It is another charge, and we wonder if it will be raised,” the Chestfield resident said.
“It is not [patients’] fault for being ill.
“It is not their fault for being ill…”
“It does get busy sometimes.”
But pensioner Mary Brown believes it is a “very reasonable charge for a very helpful facility”.
Meanwhile, about 90 out of a total of 150 parking spaces at Estuary View are on a patch owned by Graham Land and Developments.
But that arrangement will end this year after planning permission was granted for a care home.
To increase its capacity, bosses are investing £1.25 million in a new overflow car park, which must be funded by the medical centre.
“There is no nearby car park or roads to park on as it’s out of town,” Dr Ribchester added.
“About 96% of patients come by car, and only 4% come by bus.
“Estuary View is on the edge of town, and there are no car parks or roads for parking, so we have to provide a car park.”
