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Hospital withdraws £15 weekly parking ticket

Tony Fisher / BBC The main entrance of Bedford Hospital with an ambulance outside parked by a drop off zone. There is a pedestrian crossing leading to the entrance.Tony Fisher / BBC
The hospital trust said the weekly parking ticket had been removed due to rising costs

A weekly £15 parking ticket for visitors to a hospital has been withdrawn.

People coming to Bedford Hospital will have to pay the standard charges of up to £12 per day, which amounts to £84 per week - an increase of over 450%.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the change was made due to rising costs of the trust’s leased car parks, lighting, security and maintenance.

It said the weekly ticket was regularly used by members of the public not accessing hospital services, putting additional pressure on their already busy car parks.

Tony Fisher / BBC A parking meter with a notice next to it detailing the various charges within the hospital grounds.Tony Fisher / BBC
Everyone visiting Bedford Hospital now has to pay the standard charges

Chief executive David Carter said the decision to withdraw the weekly parking ticket was a "difficult" one.

He added “our car parking charges compare very well to other nearby trusts, and we do offer concessionary parking arrangements which extend beyond the national mandatory parking concessions for those in greatest need".

The trust also operates the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme which allows for the refund of travel and parking costs for those who are in receipt of certain benefits.

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