Liz Kimmins
Newry and Armagh · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I do not know how it will have affected North Antrim specifically unless the Member is referring to something in particular. We all have a responsibility in climate change and what we do to try to mitigate its impacts.”
“As the Member rightly said, removal of the zero-detriment policy is for the AERA Minister, and I have engaged with the Minister on that, as well as on the removal of the statement of regulatory principles and intent. I recognise that removing that would have detrimental impact on future development.”
“In response, we recently developed and introduced new appraisal guidance, which represents a significant and deliberate shift in approach. Under the previous arrangements, schemes were largely determined by a monetised cost-benefit ratio threshold where, typically, projects that fell below a ratio of one did not progress.”
“A number of significant issues have led to that scenario. I assume that the Member is referring to waste water capacity. I have said that NI Water has suggested that it needs between £3·5 billion to £3·6 billion for the next price control period.”
“Recruitment is a key challenge faced by all Departments. In questions to the Minister of Health, my colleague from Newry and Armagh referred to the recruitment issue that recently impacted on Daisy Hill. The challenge is not unique to DFI. I want to put a focus on ensuring that we build our internal capacity and improve staffing levels.”
“The Executive and the Assembly agree that the Executive's Budget is not adequate, which is why we are in that negotiation. When it comes to the capital budget, we have to factor in a timeline for the legal challenge that we are going through. It is unlikely that we will get a decision from the court on this side of the summer recess.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,530 lines we hold for Liz Kimmins, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 43 of 51.
“We need to make sure that all people can have access to an early and accurate diagnosis of dementia no matter where they live. If we do not address diagnosis rates, we have no hope of addressing the major dementia challenges that lie ahead. <BR /> <BR />Any delays to dementia diagnosis or improvements to care add considerable costs to the already overburdened healthcare system and our local communities. The research revealed today shows that, in line with the increasing numbers of people living with dementia, the need for unpaid care, often provided by loved ones or friends, will grow significantly, with 40% more people expected to require unpaid care by 2040. That is a major concern when one third of unpaid carers already spend more than 100 hours caring each week and 16% have had to give up work to care.”
“Over nine in 10 people living with dementia said that getting a diagnosis had benefited them by allowing them to plan for the future. It had allowed them and their families to receive practical advice, feel a sense of relief in knowing what the diagnosis is and get medication to help manage the symptoms of dementia. <BR /> <BR />Over one third of people in the North live with dementia every day without a diagnosis that could give them access to the right treatment and support. Thousands wait years for a diagnosis, and we would not tolerate such a long wait for cancer diagnoses. Research released by the Alzheimer's Society today shows that spending on diagnosis makes up less than 1·4% of healthcare expenditure across these islands.”
“This Dementia Action Week, the Alzheimer's Society published new research today revealing that the cost of dementia care in the North has now reached a staggering figure of almost £1 billion a year. That figure is set to rise to more than £2 billion by 2040, unless urgent action is taken. More than 24,000 people live with the condition in the North, and I know that many Members, including me, have experienced dementia in their families and local communities. For many, dementia is viewed as simply a natural part of ageing, rather than being recognised as a devastating terminal illness. <BR /> <BR />Time is not on our side. The North is predicted to have the largest increase of people living with dementia by 2040, with an increase of over 51% to approximately 43,000 people.”
“Today marks the start of Dementia Action Week 2024. As chair of the newly formed all-party group on dementia, I know that dementia is one of the biggest health and social care challenges of our time. Yet, in decision-making, it still is not given the priority that it requires.”
“I thank the Minister for her quick action in taking forward the scheme. The motion that we tabled was passed less than a month ago. It is therefore really good to receive that update. <BR /> <BR />Minister, will you confirm whether the General Register Office will engage with women who have been impacted on by baby loss, as well as with bereavement organisations, including Sands, throughout the scheme's development? It is very important that their voices be heard.”
“Making it more difficult for people to afford to come to work is not exactly an incentive in attracting or retaining staff. We must do better. I look forward to seeing real progress on the removal of hospital car parking charges well in advance of the two-year deadline.”
“I reiterate my disappointment that it has not been completed in the time frame agreed in 2022. We must now ensure that there are no further delays. I welcome the Minister's update today about the contract having been awarded, but, as I mentioned, we will monitor the progress of the implementation of the scheme very closely. It is essential that a serious effort is made to deliver the work fully so that we can fulfil the Assembly's promise to the hard-working staff in our hospitals and to patients and their families, who continue to feel the financial burden daily, particularly as they deal with the impacts of a cost-of-living crisis. <BR /> <BR />We have highlighted on numerous occasions the serious workforce issues facing our heath service.”
“The Committee has written to the Department to get updates on the progress of the scheme every two months. The Committee will seek to ensure that free parking at hospitals is brought forward as soon as practicable and that we are not in the position in two years' time of having to come back to seek further extensions. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister, his departmental officials and officials from the trusts for their engagement with the Committee before the introduction of the Bill. I hope that we continue to work collectively to improve the services that are provided to people in our communities. <BR /> <BR />I now speak as Sinn Féin health spokesperson. At each stage of the Bill, we have repeatedly emphasised the need for the legislation to be implemented as soon as possible.”
“<BR /> <BR />During discussions with the Minister and the Department, the Committee received assurances that the permit scheme for staff was being redeveloped with new criteria. It would be good to receive an update on that today and confirmation of when that process will be completed across all the trust sites. The Committee is also keen to ensure that the patients and families who are entitled to free parking are provided with parking passes. We encourage all trusts to ensure that eligible patients and families are made aware of and provided with passes at the earliest opportunity. <BR /> <BR />The Committee heard about the difficulties that there have been in appointing the contractor to deliver the traffic management scheme. It is welcome that that is now moving forward; the Minister stated that a contractor is now in place.”
“As I mentioned at Second Stage, the previous Health Committee undertook the Committee Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill. The issues that were raised during evidence in 2022 are as relevant today as they were over two years ago. Those issues include inequity in charging within and across trusts, financial issues for staff having to pay for parking and inconsistencies in the approach to providing free parking to patients and their families. We still hear of staff having to pay around £11 per day to access safe parking at Belfast City Hospital. Some of them are the lowest-paid staff who work difficult shift patterns and have no easy access to public transport.”
“Recent figures that the Committee received from the trusts outline that people can wait for over 90 minutes in a queue to get access to car parking. That shows that more work needs to be done by the trusts and the Department to improve parking capacity at congested sites. We look forward to seeing future plans and proposals to increase capacity and provide additional public transport and park-and-ride facilities to take pressure off those sites.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Final Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill 2024. I will make some brief remarks on behalf of the Committee before speaking as Sinn Féin health spokesperson. <BR /> <BR />The Bill has been through the accelerated passage process, and I highlight that the Committee is disappointed that the Bill is required. The Committee understands why the Department needs time to bring the necessary systems into place to ensure that those who need access to hospital car parking spaces can access them. However, it is disappointing that, even now, we hear real-life experiences of people missing important appointments as they are stuck in a line, waiting to get into a car park.”
“Reflecting on the transformational impact that Cuan Mhuire has had on his life and his gratitude to all involved with the charity, Pat described how he and many others entered Cuan Mhuire as broken human beings and left it with renewed hope and the support to change their lives for the better. <BR /> <BR />We undoubtedly owe a lot to Sister Consilio and her small group of dedicated and committed helpers who, with her, founded the Harbour of Mary/Cuan Mhuire in Newry. Many local people were so good to Sister Consilio in those early days and over the years, and she deeply appreciated that. We mark the 40th anniversary of Cuan Mhuire in Newry, and I know just how huge the facility's impact has been. I celebrate it with everyone involved in Cuan Mhuire and pay tribute to them.”
“When she arrived in Newry in 1984 with her small group of dedicated supporters, little did she realise the impact that Cuan Mhuire would have. Sister Consilio and the staff of Cuan Mhuire are hugely respected and appreciated by families and communities from all traditions and backgrounds. In 2012, Cuan Mhuire left the Armagh Road and opened a new state-of-the-art facility on the Old Dublin Road at Killeen. <BR /> <BR />On Sunday, well-known Camlough man and former resident of Cuan Mhuire Pat McGinn ran the Belfast marathon to mark Cuan Mhuire's 40th anniversary celebrations this year and to raise much-needed funds for the facility.”
“Sadly, addiction continues to plague our communities and destroy lives. Drug and alcohol addiction does not discriminate, and children and young people are getting involved with substances at a much younger age. Statistics show that alcohol and drug misuse is increasing every year across Ireland. The latest NISRA report in January stated that there have been over 600 deaths as a result of drugs and alcohol, two thirds of which were men. <BR /> <BR />On 29 June 1984, Kerry-born nun Sister Consilio Fitzgerald opened Cuan Mhuire addiction centre on the Armagh Road in Newry. In the 40 years since it opened, the Cuan Mhuire centre has supported individuals and their families through the turmoil of addiction. Sister Consilio and her dedicated team have helped to restore hope and to change the lives of many thousands from across the North.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer to my question. It is an all-Executive priority, as we know, but can the Minister give an update on the work on childcare specifically with the Department for the Economy and the Department of Health? Families and providers are crying out for help. We want to ensure that the work is moving at pace, but we want it to be done properly.”
“One of the obstacles to that is the fact that funding is released only when schools are already at capacity or are beyond capacity. Will the Minister advise what work is being done on long-term planning so that schools can obtain funding based on projected numbers? I ask that because we are seeing and we know that numbers are increasing continually. It is important that there is long-term planning rather than the drip-feeding of modular units on sites that are already congested.”
“I declare an interest: I have been on the board of governors of Rathore School in Newry for almost nine years. Given that, I am acutely aware of the huge issues that special schools and families are facing, and I thank the Minister for this very welcome statement. <BR /> <BR />Minister, one of the issues that comes up time and time again is the ability to future-proof our SEN sector.”
“I thank the First Minister for her update. Does she agree that the NSMC provides an important forum for developing shared approaches to the delivery of essential public services, most obviously all-island health interventions but also in other areas, such as agriculture, infrastructure, climate and tourism?”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. I know that safeguarding and protecting the rights of victims and delivering services is a key priority for her. In the absence of a commissioner, can the Minister update us on the work of the Victims' Commission?”
“Others said, and the Member for West Belfast pointed out, that things have got worse and that there are issues with money and all those things. I hope that we can address all that, and we absolutely want to, but the reality is that we are completely underfunded. I look forward to the Minister making representation on the matter to the British Government so that we get can the money that we need, because they are failing our people. <BR /> <BR />We will support the motion and the amendment. I hope that we can start to move forward on these things. We cannot allow more people to die in the meantime.”
“We also need to listen to those who have been through the system and that experience and take on board where they were failed and what we need to do to change it. <BR /> <BR />Cara Hunter mentioned that we are in a post-conflict society. Absolutely, and we probably have a higher prevalence of drug, alcohol and mental health issues for that reason, and that has led to social deprivation being one of the key drivers for people having those issues. We cannot ignore that. That is why we have to take a whole-system approach, but that will require proper early intervention and investment. We have to look holistically at all that, and a dual-diagnosis approach is key. <BR /> <BR />It is really positive that, for once, we are all in agreement on a very important issue.”
“If somebody tells me that they are depressed so they drink, that is different from them being depressed because they drink. That is when people services do not get involved. We need to start applying some logic to how we deal with these things. How many more people have to die before we start to realise that the system is kicking them out, and it is just too difficult to access? <BR /> <BR />We have all said — I am not going to point out anybody in particular because everyone said it — that addiction is not a choice; it is an illness, and we have to treat it like that. We have to treat it as though we were going to hospital with a broken leg, pneumonia or one of those things that requires immediate treatment.”
“I do not know how anybody can look at that as a solution, but, for them, that was when they knew that he was safe. They knew that he was not taking drugs or drink; he was not going to come to harm. He would go in and out over a short period — in for maybe two weeks or six weeks, whatever it was, and then he was just put out again, and we were back into that cycle. Sadly, it is another case where he then passed away due to his health. He was not looking after himself. The trauma and long-term impact on his whole family circle has been immense. We tried and tried and tried, but that joined-up approach simply is not there. <BR /> <BR />That is where we need to focus in the interim. We understand that a lot of this costs money, but we need people to be working together here and to stop hiding behind red tape, because that is where we are at.”
“They had a son who had everything. He had a family; he had a good job; he had beautiful children. He had everything going for him, but his mental health deteriorated, and, sadly, he turned to drink and, eventually, to drugs to try to cope with that, because he did not have the support that he needed at that time. He lost everything. He lost his family, he lost his home and he lost his job, and, at that stage, he was probably in the worst place he could have been. <BR /> <BR />His family came to me for help, because they did not know what to do — he was a grown man, an adult — and it was a difficult situation. He then got engaged with the judicial system because of the impacts of everything that was going on in his life. The shocking thing for me in that case was that his family felt relief when he was taken into custody.”
“That is something that we hear. The lady gave a personal account of her experience. Her younger sister, who is, sadly, now deceased — she died when she was 28 — fought for 13 years to get help. When she was at crisis point and tried to take her own life, those who should have been there to step in and provide that support — because it was a mental health issue — on a technicality, walked away. Sadly, we are talking about that in the past tense now because that young girl never got the support that she really needed. That is a story that is far too common. We all heard that today. <BR /> <BR />There is that constant ping-pong between services, whether it is mental health, addiction or, indeed, the judicial service. To give you an example of that, I want to speak about a family in my constituency; a family that is close to me.”
“That looked at showcasing the impact of proper partnership working in education or training, as we train future nurses, midwives and health professionals, and in service delivery. <BR /> <BR />One of the most powerful contributions at the conference came from a lady who described her experience of having a loved one with an addiction. However, it was not about her addiction. That young girl, whose issues started when she was around 15 years old, had mental health problems that manifested themselves in an addiction. I have no doubt that, for every example that was given in the Chamber today, that is how it started. Whether it is based on abuse or a trauma, generally it comes from mental health. <BR /> <BR />That is where the problem lies, because, when they have an addiction and go for help, that support is not available.”
“That is not to take away from some of the really good work that we know is happening. In my constituency, we have Cuan Mhuire, and I cannot speak highly enough of the Cuan Mhuire facility and the work that happens there. However, it is inundated and is often well over capacity, as are many existing services. They need support, and they need us to deliver on that support. <BR /> <BR />Everyone has outlined personal and harrowing stories that they know from their constituents or their families, friends or neighbours. Just yesterday, I attended an excellent conference hosted by the School of Nursing and Midwifery, in partnership with the Patient and Carer Education Partnership, at Queen's University.”
“<BR /> <BR />As others have said, very few families and very few of us in the Chamber have not been touched by the devastation that addiction causes, whether it is drugs, alcohol or, as my colleague Philip McGuigan mentioned, gambling. It devastates families; there is no doubt about that. It can be a very lonely place for anyone who is affected, not least for the individual but for those around them who are trying to do their best to support them while also dealing with the undoubted stigma and shame that is linked to their circumstances. It is a very difficult situation for anybody who wants to do the best for their loved one but is also very conscious of how others view their family and the family member concerned and the connotations around that. More often than not, they are left with no place to go.”
“I thank my colleague Órlaithí Flynn for bringing this important motion to the Floor of the House. I know, as others have said, how committed Órlaithí has been in this area: the support that she has provided for families has been steadfast, and that was reflected in her remarks. I thank the Minister for his remarks. It is uplifting to hear that we are all on the same page and that we all know what we want to do. I would not have expected otherwise. We understand the financial picture and that things are challenging: however, that does not mean that we do nothing. It is important to note that this is not just about money; it is about looking at what we can do with what we have. There are definitely things that can be done, which I will get into later in my remarks.”
“Can we get some clarity on what is involved and on how likely it is that full implementation can be successfully achieved in that period?”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. I just want some clarity. He said, when talking about Colin McGrath's amendments, that the 12-month date is not without risk. Can you provide some clarity on that? Given the work that I would expect to have been done in the two years since the original legislation was passed and given where we are now, I would like to think that we now have a clear understanding of what is involved to ensure that the change is implemented. Nothing is without risk, so I would prefer to know whether two years is the more realistic option for having the legislation implemented, because we could be back here in another two years hearing, "We need another 12 months", and that would not be without risk either.”
“We want to ensure that that is done at pace, but we want to make sure that it is done properly, so that we do not have to come back here in September, or in six or eight months' time, and go through this all over again, with people saying, "What is actually happening?". <BR /> <BR />I ask the Minister to outline a realistic timeline as to what is involved. Does he foresee that being done? We have said that the two-year date is not a target; we want it to be done as quickly as possible. I am also conscious that we may be dealing with another Minister during that period, so we want to ensure that it is a very streamlined process in order to avoid any disruption or unnecessary further delays.”
“Can the Minister give us some clarity around how long it will take for it to be fully implemented? I acknowledge that we have had two years to look at this. The trusts have also had two years to look at it. I have heard about the challenges, but they are the same challenges that we heard about in the first debate. <BR /> <BR />We have been engaging. In Committee last week, we heard from the RCN. We have heard from the junior doctors committee and lots of different representatives about their views on the recent developments. It is very clear that we need to make sure that this is delivered at the earliest possible stage, but we have to be honest with people about how realistic that is.”
“We do not want to be in this situation, and the Minister said that he feels the same. <BR /> <BR />We understand why it has to be delayed — we heard the reasons in Committee — but I have some questions that I would like the Minister to answer as part of the debate today. Realistically, could the timeline be brought forward? We were told in Committee by officials and the Minister that it will take until at least September for the required infrastructure to be implemented. What else is required to ensure that the full removal of hospital parking charges can be implemented, and do we have a timeline around that? We have said at every stage that we do not want to delay this, but if that could be brought forward, we are happy to consider the amendments that are in front of us today.”
“I will not rehash the comments that I made last week. It is very clear that this is a Sinn Féin Act. We, particularly the primary sponsor, Aisling Reilly, worked extremely hard on this legislation. We consulted with the widest possible range of people on it. I do not accept the comments that others have made that we are delaying this because we regret the Act. We are completely committed to delivering on this for people. We have made that clear, time and again. However, we have to be realistic with people. The Minister and his officials have said that it is not possible, so it would be unfair to give people false hope by saying that we must continue to pursue it when we know that it is not possible. It would be completely unfair of us to do that and give people hope.”
“To put it into context, a band 5 nurse on a starting salary of around £27,000 a year, who is potentially already paying the equivalent of a mortgage payment every month for childcare, is then expected to fork out £11 or £12 a day for parking, in some cases five days a week. How can we justify that? If we really want to stabilise our health service and recruit and retain staff properly so that they can deliver vital healthcare, we must make it worth their while to do so.”
“Those challenges must not, however, be used as a reason to continue this unfair and unjust cost to staff and patients, who have no choice but to travel by car to hospital for work or to receive healthcare. Although I welcome some of the criteria that the Minister outlined for ensuring that interim measures are put in place for free parking permits for staff, it is something that we have to have as a short-term measure. Every week at the Health Committee, we hear from departmental officials and representatives from right across the health and social care sector about the huge workforce crisis in our health service. How do we really expect to address that crisis when it is costing staff to come to their work?”
“No one should have to deal with an additional financial burden while accessing treatment or attending hospital with a family member, particularly those who have long stays or frequent attendances at hospital. Just today, I met the Children's Health Coalition. It has outlined its key asks, which include a relatively small amount of ring-fenced funding to support families with the hidden costs of caring for a sick child as they face significant reduction in their family income during that time. Anything that we can do to try to alleviate what is already a very difficult time for families and patients, we should do. <BR /> <BR />We are acutely aware of the existing challenges with parking at hospital sites, and it is important that those be addressed.”
“Free parking at public hospital sites would help address health inequalities by reducing the burden on patients and visitors who are already physically, psychologically and financially impacted on by the experience of their own or a loved one's ill health. According to Macmillan Cancer Support's views on the provisions of the previous Hospital Parking Charges Bill, submitted to the Health Committee, Macmillan benefits advisers have reported that car parking charges are a cost frequently mentioned by people living with cancer and that they often need to refer people to the Macmillan grants team so that those people are able to access financial support for parking and travel costs.”
“There is no doubt that patients, staff and service users would all benefit greatly from the removal of charges, and, although we are disappointed, we do understand that the Minister has identified a preferred contractor, and we therefore hope to see rapid progress made on the matter in the coming weeks and months, not at the end of another two years. <BR /> <BR />During the legislative process, support for the previous Hospital Parking Charges Bill was expressed by many different organisations, such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, the Rural Community Network (RCN), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), NI Committee, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU)-affiliated trade unions and the BMA.”
“Provided that the Bill passes the necessary stages and is granted Royal Assent, the Committee will undertake its scrutiny of the implementation of the new system and the work that will be done to increase capacity and improve access to our hospital sites. <BR /> <BR />I will now make some remarks in my role as Sinn Féin health spokesperson. As outlined, Sinn Féin is extremely disappointed that the Hospital Parking Charges Act 2022 has not been implemented within the time frame agreed with the Department.”
“The Committee is aware that there are currently circumstances in which patients and families can avail themselves of free parking, and I encourage the Department and the trusts to ensure that they are proactive in providing those patients and their families with free parking where they qualify for it rather than continue with the inconsistent approach that is taken across sites at present. We are all too aware of the problems at some of our hospital sites, and the Minister and the Department need to ensure that they use this next period to improve access and capacity at those sites, for staff and patients.”
“I outlined the need for additional criteria in relation to those on low incomes. I hope that the Minister and the Department will consider that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Committee members also highlighted to the officials that the two-year postponement should not act as a target date and, if possible, charges should be removed once the system is up and running and had sufficient time to be tested. The officials said that it was not their intention to use the full two years. The issue of staff permits was raised during the briefing with the Minister, who outlined, as he has done today, that it is his intention to make staff car parking permits free of charge, which is, indeed, welcomed. The Minister and the officials outlined the criteria for providing parking permits, including the need for access to multiple sites, for home visits, for delivering equipment and for staff who work shift patterns where public transport is not available.”
“The officials outlined that a delay in implementation was required as the automatic number plate recognition system that would be needed to manage the car parks would not be in place until September at the earliest. The officials said that, without that system in place, free parking would result in gridlock at many of our hospital sites and that blue-light routes could not be preserved. The officials also said that the reason for the delay was a legal challenge in the procurement process and it was hoped that that would be resolved in the coming weeks. The officials told us that traffic impact assessments were completed and highlighted some of the issues that would occur if charging were to be removed. The Committee requested a copy of those traffic impact assessments.”
“Therefore, it is disappointing that, over two years later, we are in a position where we are having to introduce new legislation to further delay the introduction of free parking on our hospital sites. The previous debate on accelerated passage of the Bill outlined the reasons why action needs to be taken quickly on the issue. I will outline the Committee's consideration of the Bill and some of the issues that were raised with the Minister and officials in relation to its implementation. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is a short, two-clause Bill that provides for a postponement of the implementation of the 2022 Act for a period of two years. As I mentioned in the previous debate, the Deputy Chairperson and I were briefed by the Minister on the Bill last Monday and the Committee was briefed by officials last Thursday.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Second Stage debate on the principles of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill. In the last mandate, the previous Health Committee undertook the Committee Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Act 2022. That Committee undertook a public consultation on the Bill and heard from a number of organisations in relation to it. Some of the issues that were raised during the evidence sessions are still as relevant today as they were over two years ago, such as the lack of capacity, inequity in charging within and across trusts, financial issues for staff having to pay for parking and inconsistencies in the approach to providing free parking for patients and their families. <BR /> <BR />In March 2022, the Assembly agreed that the Hospital Parking Charges Bill be enacted.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee noted that the Executive had agreed to the Minister's request for accelerated passage. Following the briefing by officials and considering that no management system would be in place before 12 May, the Committee agreed that it was content that accelerated passage be approved. However, I note that Mr Colin McGrath placed on record his opposition to granting accelerated passage to the Bill. <BR /> <BR />I ask the Minister for clarity on what will happen if Royal Assent is not received by 12 May. Has there been any consideration of the arrangements and management of car parks that would be required if the 12 May target is not achieved? If accelerated passage is granted, I will outline the Committee's consideration of the Bill at Second Stage.”
“We were advised that, while trusts had been working towards 12 May this year, due to legal challenges in relation to the awarding of the contract for traffic management systems, the systems would not be in place by 12 May. The timeline for implementation of a new control system has been significantly delayed. Members were advised that the delay meant that the earliest a system could be in place is September 2024. <BR /> <BR />It was said that, without automatic number plate recognition systems, our hospital sites would be even more chaotic, which would result in people being late for or even missing their appointments. The Department provided the Committee with a timeline of the work that it and the trusts have taken forward in the two years since the Hospital Parking Charges Bill was passed.”