Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the feasibility of abolishing hospital parking charges in the last three months; and if he will make a statement.

The Department keeps the issue of car parking charges under review following its 2015 guidance on National Health Service patient, visitor and staff car parking which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

Income generated from parking charges is used to pay the costs of providing the parking e.g. maintenance, security and lighting, and avoid funds being taken from budgets for healthcare services. If any excess is generated, it is used to fund clinical services.

NHS trusts make decisions locally about the provision of car parking to patients, visitors and staff, and are provided guidance by the Department in published car parking principles. The principles provide a sufficient mandate for trusts to take a responsible approach to charging, including recommendations to charge on exit and providing reduced costs.