SNP On Your Side as £90 Million Saved After Hospital Parking Charges Scrapped
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam has welcomed new figures revealing that patients, visitors, and NHS staff across Scotland have saved over £90 million since the SNP Government fulfilled its pledge to scrap hospital car parking charges at NHS sites.
The move has been particularly important for rural and coastal communities like Banffshire and Buchan Coast, where long journeys to major hospitals such as Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) often mean significant travel and fuel costs for families already feeling the squeeze from the cost of living crisis.
Karen Adam MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast said:
“In rural constituencies like mine, a car isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. Whether travelling to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for appointments, visiting loved ones in hospital, or getting to work, people in our communities rely on their cars every day. Scrapping hospital parking charges has made a real difference for local families and NHS staff who already face higher costs simply because of where we live.
The SNP has delivered on this commitment, and it’s another clear example of how we’re on your side, tackling the cost of living pressures and standing up for rural communities across Scotland. Every penny saved on hospital parking is money that stays in people’s pockets when they need it most.”
Official Parliamentary Answer confirming total savings:
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-36606
Karen added that this policy is part of a broader effort by the SNP Government to ease financial pressures on households, particularly in rural areas where costs for travel, energy, and food are often higher.
“Rurality brings extra costs, from fuel to food, but the SNP continues to take action to make life fairer. We’ve expanded the Fuel Insecurity Fund, and now saved families millions by ending these unfair hospital parking charges. This is exactly what a government that’s on your side looks like.”