Parking charge hikes penalise patients - charity

A rise in the cost of parking at hospitals is unfairly penalising patients and their families, a charity has said.

The Patients Association was responding to news that one in four NHS trusts had raised charges at at some point in the two years to March 2024.

Oxford University Hospitals, Royal Berkshire and Hampshire Hospitals NHS trusts were among those to have upped their prices, according to Freedom of Information (FOI) data.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the charges were the responsibility of individual trusts but must be "reasonable and in line with the local area". The hospital trusts have been approached for a comment.

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association said: "The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is already pushing many households to the brink, and these charges unfairly penalise people simply for being unwell and needing access to essential healthcare."

Parking fees for hospital staff in England were waived in July 2020 due to the pandemic, but the temporary measure ended on 31 March, 2022.

At the time, the DHSC said the change had cost around £130m over two years.

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."

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust increased tariffs for patients and visitors at John Radcliffe Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Churchill Hospital in August 2023.

According to the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, it added a 10% increase in 2023 which "was based on the fact that the patient tariff had not been increased for four years" and therefore "10% was a fair increase based on inflation".

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust changed the durations and charges from December 2022.

An hour tariff increased by 20p but a 24-hour charged increased by six pounds.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust upped its charges by 20p for a one hour stay, 40p for two to three hours, 50p for up to four hours and £1 for more than six hours.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust increased its prices by 20p, 30p and 40p respectively.

Ms Power said: ""While parking fees continue to provide important revenue for hospitals during a period of significant financial strain, it is vital that any additional NHS funding is focused on improving patient care."

You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.