Here's a list of NHS trusts which have put up hospital parking charges in past two years

20 December 2024, 17:22 | Updated: 21 December 2024, 02:27

A total of 37 NHS trusts increased car parking charges at some point in the two years to March 2024.

Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, said: "NHS trusts - most of whom are under huge financial pressure - just couldn't afford to maintain car parks without charging people to use them.

"The last thing trusts want to do is have to divert money away from patient services.

"City centre and urban hospital car parks where spaces are in great demand are a particular challenge."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said in a statement to PA: "Hospital car park charges are the responsibility of individual NHS trusts, however any charges must be reasonable and in line with the local area.

"Free parking is available for all NHS staff who work overnight."

Here's a list of the NHS trusts where the charges have increased, based on figures obtained by the Press Association following a Freedom of Information request. Not all trusts reported the figures in the same way.

Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Charges were increased from 1 February 2023. Up to 20 minutes remained free, while stays of up to two hours, two to three hours, three to four hours and four to five hours all increased by 50p to £4.50, £5.50, £6.50 and £7.50 respectively.

Stays of five to six hours and the weekly rate remained the same.

Charges for stays of more than six hours increased by £1 to £10.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

Charges were increased from 1 February 2023. Up to 20 minutes remained free, with charges for up to two hours, two to three hours, three to four hours and four to five hours increasing by 50p to £4.50, £5.50, £6.50 and £7.50 respectively.

The day rate of more than six hours increased by £1 to £10. Tariffs for five to six hours remained the same (£8), as did the weekly rate (£25).

Barts Health NHS Trust

Tariffs were increased for patients and visitors during the period at Newham Hospital only.

Up to one hour was a new charge at £2.

Up to three hours increased by 70p to £3.70, while up to six hours increased by £1 to £7.

Charges for an eight-hour stay and up to 24 hours remained the same at £8 and £16.50 respectively.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The trust increased prices on 1 July 2023. Stays of two hours, two to three hours and three to six hours all increased by 20p to £2.70, £3.20 and £4.20 respectively. Six to 24 hours increased by 30p to £6.30.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

The trust increased primary care tariffs and charges at Ipswich Hospital in August 2022, followed by Colchester Hospital in January 2023.

Up to 30 minutes at both hospitals remained free, although charges for one, two and four hours increased by 20p, 30p and 50p respectively to £2.20, £3.30 and £4.50.

There was a £5.50 charge introduced for five hours and a £10 charge for 24 hours. The price of an eight-hour stay increased to £6.50 from £5.

However, a five-day pass was cheaper at £12, down from £15, while a seven-day pass was £4 cheaper at £14.

In primary care, one hour was free, with two hours costing 30p more at £3.30.

A stay of four hours increased by 50p to £4.50, eight hours was £1.50 more at £6.50 and 24 hours was £2 more at £12.

A five-day pass was £1 dearer at £16, although the price of a seven-day pass remained the same at £18.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Tariffs were increased from January 2024:

Up to one hour - Up by 20p to £2

One to two hours - Up by 20p to £3.60

Two to three hours - Up by 25p to £5.20

Three to four hours - Up by 35p to £7

Four to five hours - Up by 40p to £8.50

Five to six hours - Up by £1 to £10.2

Six to 12 hours - Up by £1.10 to £11.80

Twelve to 24 hours - Up by 85p to £18.30