It makes you proud to be British

Like going to hospital, either as a patient or visiting someone? Nah, not much fun is it.

So, as reported in the Times, the relatively recent car park charges levied by NHS hospitals just makes an unpleasant experience that little bit worse. Justified by the suits as necessary income to help funding ... oh just do one!

But it actually gets worse ... let's take Kingston Hospital who have a pre-pay system. So pregnant friend of mine goes there for a check-up last week. Thinks: "right I have got an appointment scheduled for 2.30 ... 2.15 now, allow half hour over-run and add another 30 mins just in case" ('cos NHS appointments are always bang on time!). So 2 hours paid for ... in she goes and waits and waits and waits.

Thinks it's going to be touch and go but also aware that if she skips out to fill the meter, she might lose her place ... so bad enough someone that's 8 months pregnant is even to having to worry about this.

Back to her car 5-10 minutes late = £60 fine slapped on the windscreen. Good for the blood pressure!

Think the hospital suits must have sales promotion experience - it's sort of the equivalent of banking on non-redeemed prizes when budgeting. It's just this time they're banking on ... a) people overpaying, b) people being delayed ... or c) people not having the exact money (oh didn't I mention that the machines don't give change !) ... or all three. Kerrching!