TRAVEL COSTS FOR CANCER PATIENTS

That this House is concerned that 92 per cent. of hospitals in England, 53 per cent. of hospitals in Wales, 20 per cent. of hospitals in Northern Ireland and 6 per cent. of hospitals in Scotland charge for parking; notes that six out of 10 hospitals in the UK do not provide concessions for cancer patients; further notes that, on average, cancer patients travel 53 times for treatment, spending an average of £325 on travel and parking charges; is aware that since December 2006, anyone with a cancer diagnosis is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, which imposes a Disability Equality Duty on all public bodies; joins with Macmillan Cancer Support in calling for all hospitals in the UK to carry out a Disability Impact Assessment to ensure they comply with the new Disability Equality Duty; and urges hospitals to consider giving cancer patients, and other disabled patients who regularly travel to hospital for treatment, a voucher to exempt them from car parking charges.