Funds raised through our car parking charges help us cover the cost of keeping our car parks safe and well maintained – including repairs, lighting, CCTV, security, updating machines and barriers, and keeping ambulance routes clear.
They also help us to provide free or reduced parking rates for people who need it most, including for example, Blue Badge holders, patients with cancer, parents staying long hours with children, and other long stay patients. Any income over and above these costs is invested in patient services.
Due to rising maintenance costs, and to ensure we keep the site safe and running well for everyone who uses it, the parking charges in our visitor car parks will increase from Saturday 1 August.
You can find out more about the changes below:
What’s staying the same?
– The first 30 minutes will continue to be free
– Free parking will still be available for:
- relatives or carers of a patient receiving end of life care
- oncology patients attending the hospital for day treatment with a valid three or six-month form
- patients who attend hospital appointments frequently – at least three times within a month, for more than three months. Please remind them they need to keep parking receipts for the relevant parking claim and take these as well as proof of the appointments to the General Office
- disabled patients and visitors who hold a Blue Badge – they simply need to scan the barcode on their Blue Badge at a payment machine or at the exit barrier as they drive out of the car park.
- patients who arrive to find their appointment has been cancelled.
A reduced rate for a seven-day period, which will rise by £1.40 to £17.50, is still available for:
- visitors or carers of patients in our Intensive Care Unit (ITU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), Special Care Baby Unit, Dolphin Ward or Penguin Ward
- visitors of patients who have been in hospital for more than seven consecutive days, and are assisting in the care or treatment of their relative.
Forms for this are issued and completed by wards for eligible visitors. Only one concession will be issued per patient.
A reduced rate of £2.30 per visit is still available for:
- Outpatient clinics when we are responsible for clinics over-running. Authorisation slips will be provided by senior outpatient staff.
- Red badge holders when accessing red badge paediatric services. Forms are available from the ward.
What’s changing?
From Saturday 1 August the following charges will come into force:
- Under 30 minutes – no fee
- Up to two hours – £2.50
- Up to three hours – £4.50
- Up to four hours – £5.50
- Up to five hours – £7
- Up to 24 hours – £15
