NHS rakes in £173.1million in cash from car parking fees

An NHS trust has been reportedly accused of “taxing the sick” after raking in a record £9.2million in parking charges last year.

The sum collected by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is the highest ever recorded by an NHS trust in a single year, reports DailyMail.

Across the UK, the NHS generated £173.1 million from charging patients and visitors for parking in 2023/24, along with an additional £69.8 million from staff. The total of £242.9 million equates to £4.67 million per week, or £27,800 every hour.

Patient advocacy groups argue that these costs can be overwhelming for those who need frequent hospital visits and may discourage friends and family from visiting.

Hospital staff also emphasise that many hospitals are in remote areas with limited public transport and irregular working hours, often making driving a necessity.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has topped the list for parking revenue among NHS trusts for the past five years, earning a total of £31.3 million during that time, and £43 million over seven years, according to figures from NHS England.

Nationally, NHS trusts have collected £880 million over the past five years and £1.4 billion over seven years. NHS staff received free parking during the pandemic, but some trusts have since reinstated the charges.

Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance told Daily Mail: “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.

“The government should put an end to this tax on the sick.”

Beth McCleverty, policy, research and campaigns manager at baby care charity Bliss told the publication: “Parking costs can place a significant burden on new parents if their baby is born premature or sick and requires neonatal care.

“A neonatal stay can range from days to weeks or months in hospital soon after birth, and that means that the cost of parking, and other essentials like food and drink, childcare and accommodation, can really add up for families at a time when they are already under a high level of stress.

“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.

“Parents with babies receiving neonatal care are not visitors but are essential partners in their baby’s care. Hospital trusts must urgently reassess the impact of parking costs on this already vulnerable group.”

NHS England said parking charges are a way for trusts to manage capacity in their car parks for patients and staff.

The income is used to pay for the cost of running the car park, such as security and maintenance, with any surplus income re-invested in NHS services.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson 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 is used to maintain car park facilities and surplus income is put back into the NHS.”

1) UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUST

2) UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

3) UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF LEICESTER NHS TRUST

4) MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

5) FRIMLEY HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST