Trust under fire for disabled parking charges

Health trusts that charge for disabled parking have come under fire from the Labour party.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust (SFHT) which runs Newark and King’s Mill hospitals, is among those in the firing line.

Figures from NHS Digital show blue badge holders pay to park at 139 hospital sites in England.

The charges at SFHT sites are the same as those for able-bodied drivers.

Health Secretary Mr Jeremy Hunt has previously described parking charges for disabled people as a “stealth tax on the vulnerable” and issued guidance that he claimed would cut the cost of parking for certain groups, including people with disabilities.

Labour’s shadow minister, Mr Justin Madders, said: “Disabled people often have no choice but to drive to hospital, and it is wrong to target them with parking fees.

“The truth is hospitals are being forced to introduce or increase parking charges because they are desperately short of cash.”

At Newark Hospital the first 15 minutes of parking is free; 15 minutes to an hour costs £1.80; one to four hours £3.50; four to six hours £5.50; six to 24 hours is £7; a seven-day saver ticket costs £12.50; and a four-week saver is £30.

Anyone contravening the parking regulations risks a fine of £50, reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days.

'Money goes back into the running of the hospital'

A spokesman for the trust said: “There is no national policy on what or who NHS hospitals should charge for parking, and currently all staff, visitors and patients on our sites are charged for using one of our carparks.

“Our current policy was introduced in 2011 and reviewed in 2015, and was consulted on thoroughly on both occasions.

“Patients who receive certain benefits may be entitled to reclaim parking charges as part of the NHS Travel Cost Scheme, and we maintain the ability to grant concessionary parking for some people, including bereaved visitors, and patients who attend our sites very regularly for ongoing treatment.

“Any money taken from car parking at our sites goes back into the running of the hospital, including maintaining and improving our car parking facilities.

“Ultimately this means that more funds can be focused on patient care.”

The trust’s website says: “Charging for carparking is a necessary measure to ensure that the cost of providing and maintaining these facilities does not impact on our ability to deliver top quality patient care by diverting resources into subsidising carparking.”