What consideration it will give to how patients with blue badges using disabled parking spaces at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh can be r…

The Scottish Government's preferred option would be that free car parking should be available to everyone who parks in a NHS facility and this policy was introduced in 2008 and has since saved patients, visitors and staff over £39 million. The exceptions to that policy are the three PFI car parking contracts at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Ninewells hospital in Dundee which were signed under the previous administration.
NHS Lothian does not control the management of the car parking at the RIE as this falls within the scope of the PFI contract. The decisions around the location of disabled parking spaces and any reimbursement to blue badge holders are taken by Consort Healthcare.
However, the Board is mindful of the need to support access to the hospital and blue badge spaces are located nearer the hospital. Financial support can also be provided to those who have multiple visits or those who have suffered a bereavement. In these circumstances, vouchers are available to offset or remove the cost of parking and these are available through the ward staff, further details are available at https://www.nhslothian.scot/GoingToHospital/Travel/Pages/Parking.aspx .