'Tax on the sick': Hospitals rake in more than £1 BILLION on car parking fees from patients, visitors and staff
Wes Streeting plans to clamp down on NHS inefficiencies when speaking to GB News
GB News
NHS hospitals have collected a staggering £1.15billion in car parking fees from patients, visitors and staff over the past six years, new figures reveal.
Hospital trusts are now making an average of £665,000 per day from parking charges, with the amount reaching a five-year high.
The total collected in 2023-24 reached £242.8million, marking a significant increase from £192.5million the previous year.
The figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, have sparked fresh controversy over what critics are calling a "tax on the sick".
Of the total amount collected, £847.5million came from patients and visitors, while £304.3million was paid by NHS staff
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Of the total amount collected, £847.5million came from patients and visitors, while £304.3million was paid by NHS staff.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire emerged as the trust with the highest parking income, collecting £37.3million over the six-year period.
University Hospitals Birmingham followed with £25.2million in parking fees.
These figures represent a significant rebound from the pandemic years, when parking charges were temporarily waived for staff.
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University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire emerged as the trust with the highest parking income, collecting £37.3million over the six-year period
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The Conservative Government previously introduced free parking for specific groups, including Blue Badge holders, parents of sick children staying overnight, and staff working night shifts.
Despite these measures, 37 hospital trusts - representing one in four across England - have increased their parking charges in the past two years.
Some charges have reached significant levels, with the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust now charging visitors £3.90 for their first hour of parking.
These increases have occurred despite previous Government attempts to limit the amount hospitals can collect from parking fees.
Liberal Democrats care spokesman Alison Bennett said: "This is an unfair tax on the sick and on hard-working NHS staff and it has to stop. It cannot be right that nurses have to pay through the nose to get to work or that patients are subjected to sky-high fees."
The figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, have sparked fresh controversy over what critics are calling a 'tax on the sick'
PAHelen Gravestock, from Young Lives vs Cancer, highlighted the financial burden on families, stating: "Children and young people with cancer often have to travel miles from home to get treatment. This leaves families having to find an extra £250 a month on average to travel to and from hospital."
The Patients Association's Rachel Power added that the charges "unfairly penalise people simply for being unwell".
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman responded to the concerns, stating: "Hospital car park charges are the responsibility of individual NHS trusts, however, any charges must be reasonable and in line with the local area."
The spokesman added that free parking remains available for specific groups, including "NHS staff who work overnight, as well as Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, and parents of sick children staying overnight in hospital".
These provisions are part of existing measures to reduce the financial burden on certain hospital visitors and staff.
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