A man staying with his son in hospital has said it was "a kick in the teeth" after discovering he was entitled to free hospital parking he was never told about.
Andrew Tromans, who represents Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, confirmed that adults accompanying children overnight at Russell's Hall hospital are entitled to free parking.
He said he was never informed of the scheme during his own family’s experience.
Mr Tromans said: "Over the last few years my wife and I have spent nearly a month at RUH staying with our boy overnight and in that time we have spent a small fortune on parking.
"Its a bit of a kick in the teeth" added the councillor.
"At no point were we ever made aware of the provision for free parking.
He believes clearer information should be provided to parents and carers when children are admitted to hospital, ensuring families do not unnecessarily pay parking charges they may be exempt from.
"It needs to be made clearer to parents and carers staying overnight with children that they can access free parking."
He said the fault does not lie with NHS staff, but with the private company running the car park.
Mr Tromans said: "I do not hold frontline staff responsible for this as they are too busy picking up the broken pieces of a failing social care system and crumbling public realm thanks to years of cuts."
He raised the issue during a recent scrutiny meeting, as part of a wider discussion about RUH parking and the hospital’s long-term Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract.
The PFI agreement, signed in 2001, prevents the NHS trust from managing the parking facilities directly until 2041.
The car parks at Russells Hall Hospital form part of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) arrangement with Summit Healthcare.
They are operated on a day to day basis by the private company Group Nexus who operate the ANPR system.
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