UK Hospitals Collect Record £300 Million in Parking Fees
Revenue from patient, visitor, and staff parking at NHS hospitals in England surged 10% to a new high of £300 million in the last year.
Hospitals in England generated a record £300 million from parking charges in the past year, marking a 10% increase from the previous year's £271 million and a 6% rise from the previous record of £289 million set in 2019/20. Since 2018, the total revenue from parking payments has exceeded £1.7 billion.
Patients and visitors paid over £213 million, while staff contributed nearly £87 million to this total. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust collected the most, with £10.2 million, approximately two-thirds of which came from patients and visitors. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust ranked second, earning almost £7 million, with slightly more revenue from staff than patients and visitors. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust was third, receiving £6.4 million, with over 70% from patients and visitors.
Some trusts reported significantly lower figures, including Devon Partnership NHS Trust (£23,486), Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust (£17,544), and Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust (£12,872).
Politicians have criticized these charges, with Clive Jones MP, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for care, labeling them a "tax on the sick." He argued that visiting sick loved ones or attending appointments should not be accompanied by anxiety over parking costs and that healthcare workers should not face increased charges to commute to work.
NHS Trusts, which manage local health services, set their own parking policies and fees. Hourly parking charges have increased substantially at some trusts; for example, at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a 1-2 hour stay rose from £2.40 to £4, and a 2-3 hour stay from £3.60 to £6 in late 2024. Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust more than doubled its rate for over 10 hours of parking from £6 to £13.
In contrast, parking at NHS hospitals in Scotland and Wales is largely free. Regionally, hospitals in the Midlands collected the most revenue (£60 million), followed by the South East (£49.4 million) and the North West (£48.6 million). London hospitals earned nearly £35 million, with the South West and East of England bringing in just under £30 million each.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated that NHS trusts are responsible for car parking charges and that rates are expected to be reasonable and aligned with local areas. The department noted that free parking is available for those with the greatest need, such as Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attendees, parents of children staying overnight, and staff working night shifts. Revenue generated from charges is used to maintain facilities, with any surplus income reinvested into the NHS for the benefit of staff and patients.