October 19th 2024.
It has been reported that some NHS trusts are charging up to £4 per hour for the use of their staff and patient car parks. In fact, one particular trust, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, made a record-breaking £9.2 million in parking fees last year. This is the highest amount ever recorded by any NHS trust in England in a single year.
It is concerning to see that a major portion of the overall £242.9 million earned by the NHS in 2023/24 came from patients. This has led to various advocacy groups labeling it as a 'tax on the sick'. The issue is that for patients with regular appointments, the cost of parking can quickly add up. Moreover, it may also discourage friends and family from visiting, further adding to the feelings of isolation.
Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, expressed her concern saying, "Parking charges at hospitals are the last thing patients, relatives and carers need. They hit vulnerable patients the hardest, especially those with chronic conditions who need to go to the hospital regularly." She also urged the government to put an end to this "tax on the sick".
In order to see how much your local NHS trust has made from parking fees, a quick search can provide the necessary information. According to Beth McCleverty from the baby care charity Bliss, parking costs can be a major burden for new parents, especially if their baby is born premature or sick and requires neonatal care. With a neonatal stay ranging from days to weeks or even months, the cost of parking, along with other essential expenses like food, drink, childcare, and accommodation, can significantly add to the stress of these families.
As McCleverty points out, "One in seven babies receives care on a neonatal unit after birth, and at such a critical moment for bonding between parents and their vulnerable newborn, it is unacceptable that parents are being charged to be with their baby." She also emphasizes that parents of babies receiving neonatal care are not just visitors, but essential partners in their baby's care. Therefore, she urges hospital trusts to reassess the impact of parking costs on this already vulnerable group.
The 2019 Conservative manifesto promised to end unfair hospital car parking charges, making it free for those in greatest need, including disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, and staff working night shifts. However, this pledge is yet to be fulfilled.
It's not just patients and their families who are affected by these high parking fees. Doctors, nurses, and other staff, who often work long overnight shifts and unsociable hours at hospitals with poor public transport access, also bear the brunt. These fees eat into their already low salaries, which have seen a decrease in real terms value since 2010 due to rising living costs.
It is worth mentioning that the income generated from parking charges is invested in running the car parks, and any surplus goes towards other NHS services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff were exempt from paying for parking, but some trusts have chosen to reintroduce fees since then.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire have been the biggest earner from NHS parking charges for the past five years, making a total of £31.3 million in this period. Across the NHS, trusts have raised a staggering £880 million in the same timeframe, as reported by MailOnline. In response, NHS England has defended the use of parking fees, stating that it helps manage capacity in car parks for patients and staff, with the income being invested in security, maintenance, and other operational costs.
The current guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care states that parking charges should be at a "reasonable" level for the area. It also mandates that free parking must be provided for disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, and staff working night shifts. However, Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats' health and social care spokesperson, believes that these fees have become a "tax on caring" and that the previous government's failure to deliver on their promise to end unfair hospital parking fees has left people paying the price.
In response to the issue, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said, "Hospital car park charges are the responsibility of individual NHS trusts. Free parking is available for all NHS staff who work overnight, and any charges must be reasonable and in line with the local area. Any revenue generated is used to maintain car park facilities, and surplus income is put back into the NHS." It is clear that immediate action is needed to address this issue and provide a fair and affordable solution for patients, their families, and NHS staff.
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