Which would you rather pay? $150 copay, $600 facility fee, $500 physician fees, $1500 for an MRI, and $1100 for "incidentals" or $25 for parking?

Well, they're not charging you £10,000 just for walking in the door. How else are they going to make money?

Not everywhere. Due to circumstances, my car was parked at Sandwell General Hospital for 3 days and 3 hours. Total cost was £22.50.

But the treatment is free, so.... you know, there's that.

I don't mind them charging a little (although patients should be able to claim it back if they are there more than a certain amount) because someone needs to pay for the upkeep of the car park and I'd rather the hospital's regular budget is going to medical care and staff, but some of them are exorbitant.

Not everywhere. The Scottish Gov made it free years ago apart from labour PPP/PPI hospitals where it can’t because of commercial contracts signed by Westminster.

They can be. I don't object so much at having to pay to park my car if it means there is a space, but I do object to being charged more because the clinic is running late, or in the case of A&E, the waiting times.

Laughs (then cries) in American

You can't get near a English hospital without paying parking, bus, park and ride or taxi. Unless you get friend to run you. It's disgraceful. There is never any parking when you get there.

I’m glad we moved from Nottingham to Inverness. Free parking at the hospital, and we’ve been frequent fliers over the last few years.

is that, good? ...or bad phenominal?

But - pointing this out cos I'm a rabid Nationalist - they're free in Scotland. Vote SNP.

Some are and some aren't. It depends upon the hospital you're at and others it's how long you're there for. It's totally unfair how high the charges are if say, you've just driven your partner, child or whoever to hospital and parked and then something unexpected occurs and you're waiting, waiting, waiting for news in the Emergency waiting room area because the last thing on your mind is going out way across the car park to put extra money on.... I'll have a look next week to double check as to the physiotherapy hospital and at the SMART center because I think you're allowed free parking there.

Don’t worry, if you get a chronic or incurable disease, most hospitals will give you a discount whenever you attend for appointments and treatment. So you know, that’s something to look forward to at least…

Aberdeen and Falkirk free

Same in Toronto. 20bucks for 30m

If you need to go to the hospital regularly ask the staff if there is any kind of discount. My local is £7 for a two hour stay but you can buy 10 individual day passes that work out about £4.50 each. The passes last for a few months so if you're going regularly for treatment or to visit someone who'll be a while it's worth it.

So, it's cheaper for you to drive to the hospital and cheaper for us to get an ambulance.....or even a helicopter?