Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with NHS trusts on car parking costs in relation to blue badge holders.

Decisions on car parking provision and charging are taken locally by each trust.

The Department published clear guidelines (the car parking principles) for National Health Service organisations that they are expected to follow. Hospitals should put concessions in place for those who most need help including disabled people, carers and staff who work shifts. The NHS itself is responsible for ensuring that charges are fairly applied. Patients, visitors and staff who have problems with car parking should therefore contact the NHS organisation which runs the car park.

The Department published NHS patient, visitor and staff car parking principles on 23 August 2014, which were subsequently updated in October 2015:

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

On concessions, the principles make clear that concessions, including free or reduced charges or caps, should be available for the following groups:

- disabled people, including people with temporary disabilities as well as Blue Badge holders;

- frequent outpatient attenders;

- visitors with relatives who are gravely ill, or carers of such people;

- visitors to relatives who have an extended stay in hospital, or carers of such people;

- carers of people in the above groups where appropriate; and

- staff working shifts that mean public transport cannot be used.