Hospital parking to be free to the vulnerable
Blue badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts will no longer have to pay for hospital parking under plans being outlined today. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said the move was an example of the Government listening to people’s “concerns on the doorsteps”. A study earlier this month found one in three hospitals in England put up the cost of parking last year.
HOSPITAL car parking fees for blue badge holders and the parents of sick children staying overnight are to end from April, Matt Hancock has announced.
The Health Secretary said the move was an example of the Government “delivering on our promises” and listening to people’s “concerns on the doorsteps”.
Blue badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts will no longer have to pay for parking under the plans being outlined today. Mr Hancock said: “This month millions of people put their trust in us to deliver, many voting Conservative for the first time. One of the concerns mentioned regularly on the doorsteps was that vulnerable people, and staff working nights, have to pay for hospital car parking.
“So we are today delivering on our manifesto commitment and setting out our new approach to NHS hospital parking charges.”
The move was welcomed by Dr Moira Fraser-pearce, a director at Macmillan Cancer Support.
She said: “Cancer can be a huge burden on your finances and in England hospital car parking charges – especially for those undergoing regular treatment – can add significantly to this strain. This long-awaited announcement will be a game-changer for many, allowing them to attend appointments and focus on their health without the extra worry about their finances.”
A study earlier this month found one in three hospitals in England put up the cost of parking last year. The research showed hospitals made more than £254million from parking in 2018-19, up 10 per cent on the previous year.
Overall, 86 per cent of those polled said parking added to the stress of a hospital visit. One patient said: “The car parks are so busy that from 16.30 until 17.30 it can take nearly one hour to leave the hospital”, while another said: “I spent over £102 to visit my wife.”
Others described the charges as “a rip-off ”, “too expensive”, “extortionate”, “astronomical” and “exorbitant”.
Mr Hancock admitted that hospital parking costs was one of the concerns “mentioned regularly on the doorsteps” during the recent general election campaign.
He said: “Currently, the situation varies from hospital to hospital. Instead, from April, across the country, those with the greatest need – such as disabled people, parents staying overnight with sick children in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts – will no longer have to pay for parking.”
Currently, NHS trusts are responsible for making their own car parking arrangements including setting any charges – any profits of which must be reinvested into front line care.
But from April, all 206 hospital trusts in England will be expected to begin the roll out of free car parking to groups most in need. Technology has helped a number of trusts to improve their parking, and the Department of Health and Social Care will work with the NHS to identify new parking solutions.
Trusts could make use of automatic number plate recognition systems, which use camera technology to scan car number plates, or use ticket or token systems.