Shropshire hospital parking fees 'are helping patient care'

The trust that runs Shropshire's two acute hospitals has claimed its parking charges are among the lowest in the country – and reiterated that money raised goes back into patient care.

It is part of a reminder to people visiting either Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for Princess Royal Hospital in Telford that discount parking is available for some patients. The first 30 minutes of parking is also free.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs RSH and PRH, has claimed some people are not aware of the free 30 minutes or the discounts available.

Julia Clarke, director of corporate governance at SaTH, said: "Parking charges at SaTH are still among the lowest in the country, with people able to park for up to 30 minutes without charge, and paying only £3.50 for five hours or more. The 30 minutes without charge is useful for people who could drop off and pick up patients without incurring any parking charges.

"Patients receiving dialysis, radiotherapy or chemotherapy and people visiting hospital for issues connected with bereavement are able to park for free. Anyone needing to attend hospital regularly can buy a discounted 10-visit ticket for £8.

"The income we receive from car parking also benefits our patients. Annually, the money we receive from car parking pays for the equivalent of 40 staff nurses."

The trust is also working on a number of initiatives to help staff to travel to work in more sustainable ways.

Ms Clarke added: "We continue to explore ways to improve car parking at our hospitals as we appreciate it can be a challenge for patients, visitors and staff.

"Both hospital sites now have an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system to manage car parking.

"During the daytime our car parks are often busy because we have a large number of outpatient clinics. Parking spaces are more readily available during the evenings and weekends, when fewer clinics are operating, so it would be a great help to patients coming for their clinic appointments, if visitors who can choose when they can visit their loved ones came in the early evening instead."

ANPR machines were first brought in by the trust in 2013, meaning drivers don't pay for their tickets until they are preparing to leave.