Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will permanently exempt NHS staff from hospital car parking charges.

We have no plans to do so. Free parking in hospital car parks for all National Health Service staff was temporarily introduced for the duration of the pandemic and this measure ended from 31 March 2022.  However, free hospital car parking continues to be available for those in greatest need in 98% of NHS trusts which charge for car parking, including disabled people or blue badge holders; those attending frequent outpatient appointments; parents of sick children staying overnight; and staff working nightshifts.