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Local hospitals raked in an extra £1m in parking charges last year
18/03/2024
Banbury County Councillor says people in rural areas and market towns have no option apart from driving
by Noor Qurashi, Local Democracy Reporter
The impact of patients paying for parking at hospitals has been raised as new figures reveal Oxford’s NHS Trust raked in an additional £1m from charges in a year.
Latest NHS England figures show Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust earned £2.5 million from parking charges in 2023.
This is up from £1.5 million the year before, with all the money consisting of visitor payments.
The figures have raised concerns over patients being forced to stump up large sums of money with little choice due to public transport options.
Conservative county councillor Kieron Mallon, who is shadow cabinet member for public health and inequalities, said: “Many people, particularly in rural and market towns, do not have access to public transport so have no choice but to drive to our hospitals.”
Mr Mallon called on the Liberal Democrats and Labour group on the county council to invest more funds on public transport and “less on stupid anti-business, anti-car schemes” to address the issues.
The Oxford Trust comprises of the John Radcliffe Hospital, the Churchill Hospital and The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington, as well as the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
In response to the figures, the Trust has emphasised all money raised by car parking charges on hospital sites is reinvested in services to “benefit patients”.
Mark Holloway, chief estates and facilities officer at Oxford University Hospitals, said: “Parking has been free for eligible OUH staff since March 2020, the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We made changes to our visitor parking charges at our Oxford hospitals last year for the first time since 2017.
“Free and concessionary parking is available for people with disabilities, people on low income, and regular attenders.”
Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, believes the money is necessary to support the public service.
She said: “The NHS is in desperate need of support.
“The Conservative Government must give the crisis in our health services the attention it deserves.
“Their consistent underfunding of our NHS has left it on its knees.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman says parking charges are needed to help manage capacity at NHS sites, and the fees charged must not be “significantly more than other hospitals in the local area”.
He added: “Since 2022, all trusts have made hospital car parking free for blue badge holders, parents of very sick children, frequent attenders and NHS staff on night shifts, and this the first time that NHS hospital car parking has been free nationally across England for these groups.”
It comes amid controversy over the county council voting last month for the introduction of workplace parking levies (WPLs).
The WPL is an annual charge to businesses for staff parking places at their premises.
A spokesman for the county council said the authority would be speaking to consulting employers and residents on the level of the charge and who would be included in the scheme before it is rolled out.
Andrew Gant, the county council’s highways chief, said: “We have already announced a new service to the John Radcliffe, and other significant improvements, and brand-new electric buses are on our streets, all as a direct result of our traffic filters scheme.
“Filters will make life better for teachers, nurses, tradespeople and public transport by reducing congestion overall. Regular medical patients are exempt.
“The Marston Ferry filter will begin operating peak hours only. There is nowhere in Oxford you will not be able to reach by car.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam