Hospital Car Parking Should be Free

Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about hospital car parking charges. I agree with you that hospital car parking should be free.

NHS staff have been at the heart of the fight against coronavirus. I am immensely grateful for their extraordinary efforts at what is a difficult time. They do so much to make our health service one to be proud of and they deserve our respect, admiration and support.

In March, the Government announced financial support for all NHS trusts to provide free parking to NHS staff for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, the Health Minister said this support “cannot continue indefinitely” and it was widely reported in the media that the Government will end free parking for NHS staff. I am concerned that this could cost our nurses, doctors, carers and support staff hundreds of pounds a month.

We owe our NHS workers so much and I believe the Government should be rewarding them, not making it more expensive to go to work.

In December 2019, the Government set out its proposals to end hospital car parking charges for certain groups. Ministers said that when the pandemic starts to abate, the NHS will move towards the Government’s proposals to offer free parking to key patient and staff groups. However, under the proposals, NHS staff on daytime shifts and most patients will still have to pay for parking.

I will press the Government to reconsider its proposals and make parking at hospitals in England free for patients, visitors and NHS staff indefinitely.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP