Government pledge on parking charges to be adopted by Shropshire hospitals

Blue badge holders and patients who must regularly attend appointments for long-term conditions will get free hospital parking under the plans being outlined on Friday.

All hospital trusts in England will also be expected to give free parking at specific times to parents with sick children staying overnight and staff on night shifts.

Trusts manage their own car parking arrangements and reinvest the profits into frontline care.

The Department of Health is not setting aside funding to reimburse trusts that may see their finances impacted under the Tory manifesto pledge.

But a department spokeswoman said "they will be supported" to ensure the policy does not affect care.

Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which manages Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital Telford, said it has already introduced policies to make it easier for a number of patients receiving treatment for ongoing serious conditions, and those who are visiting because of a death.

The trust said it would introduce all the government's new rules when they come into force next year.

A spokesman said: “The trust already offers free parking for certain groups, including patients receiving dialysis, radiotherapy or chemotherapy and people visiting hospital for issues connected with bereavement. Anyone needing to attend hospital regularly can buy a discounted 10-visit ticket for £8.

Observe

“We will observe the new parking guidelines for our patients and visitors when they are introduced in 2020.”

Dr Moira Fraser-Pearce, a director at Macmillan Cancer Support, welcomed the government's announcement but called for other Tory promises to be implemented to see a "sorely needed" boost to the size of the NHS workforce.

"Cancer can be a huge burden on your finances and in England hospital car parking charges – especially for those undergoing regular treatment – can add significantly to this strain," she added.

"This long-awaited announcement will be a game-changer for many, allowing them to attend appointments and focus on their health without the extra worry about their finances."

A study by the PA news agency earlier this month found one in three hospitals in England put up the cost of parking last year – although SaTH was not one of those trusts.

The research showed hospitals made more than £254 million from parking in 2018/19, up 10 per cent on the previous year.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "One of the concerns mentioned regularly on the doorsteps was that vulnerable people, and staff working nights, have to pay for hospital car parking.

"Currently, the situation varies from hospital to hospital. Instead, from April, across the country those with the greatest need, such as disabled people, parents staying overnight with sick children in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts, will no longer have to pay for parking."

Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "Labour MPs have longed campaigned for hospital car parking charges to be ditched.

"But yet again patients will have to examine the small print as many will still have to pay over the odds just because they are ill."