Thank you for contacting me about hospital parking charges.
NHS trusts have also been encouraged to consider concessions for other groups, like volunteers and staff who car share, as well as establishing 'pay on exit' schemes to ensure that drivers only pay for the time that they have used. These actions are voluntary but the Government has said that all trusts should implement them wherever possible. NHS trusts are required to publish their parking policy, implementation of NHS car parking principles and financial information relating to their car parking to ensure that patients are able to hold them to account.
I am glad that the Government provided funding for free parking in hospital car parks for NHS staff during the pandemic. This temporary measure gave much-needed assistance during such a difficult time, but in light of the wider changes to the Government’s Covid-19 response, this has come to an end. I am assured however that over 94 per cent of NHS Trusts that charge for car parking have implemented free parking for those in greatest need, including NHS staff working overnight.