Free NHS Hospital Parking for Thousands in 'Greatest Need'
In the News
Thousands more NHS patients and visitors will be able to access free hospital car parking, the government says.
From April, all 206 hospital trusts in England will be expected to begin offering the concession in line with the government's manifesto promise.
Those with the "greatest need" will benefit.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50903266
Seems as though this is good news for certain people.
It's a good move, but I foresee arguements about who is or isn't classed as being in "Greatest need"
I’m really pleased to hear that something will be done about hospital parking fees. Unfortunately they’re not abolishing charges all together but that will stop others taking spaces in hospital car parks when shopping.
I'd like to see them disappear altogether, it's an added burden on patients and visitors alike. 
Shouldn't charge for hospital parking in the first place. Parking at hospitals should be used for hospital visitors only and should be completely free.
I agree with you. Why punish anyone who is sick or visiting someone who is sick, it's an extra pressure for all.
I had a parking ticket at hospital when i had to take my daughter in when she was in labour. Some of the hospitals in Wales stopped charging a few years ago though. All hospital parking should be free.
Scandalous! No-one in need (that means any hospital visitor) should have to pay
When I had to go to AE once I was unsure how long I would be so looked around for free parking close to the hospital but it was all parking permit based slots so I drove home and then walked in which was a 13 minute walk as I live relatively close to the hospital. It would have been wrong to call an ambulance it didn't merit that but that would have eliminated the parking issue so walked in. My local hospital is close to the town centre so not really suitable to offer free parking as I'm sure people would abuse it unless there was a simple computer setup that when you enter AE you put in your details of your car registration into their system so it is recorded. It probably will be necessary to keep charging visitors to use such car parks especially if close to a town centre but I really don't think patients should be charged.
It's needed - last year my daughter was admitted to hospital. I had driven her to A+E and wasn't expecting her to be admitted. it cost me over £100 to park for the week but with no other choice I had to pay. Luckily she's fully recovered though
Glad to hear that she is fully recovered. In my view parking charges are an extra worry at an already stressful time. Similarly to yourself my father-in-law was in for spells of 3 months at a time and as you say it is very expensive but you can't not visit as whoever is in hospital becomes so lonely and, of course, you want to see them too. Penalising people who are ill of visiting those who are ill is an easy way of bringing in the money!
In Wales we have had free parking for all in NHS hospital car parks for sometime now, no reason this shouldn't have been extended to England also, Suppose this is a start but doesn't go far enough. Maybe a ticket system where tickets need to be validated in the hospital for inner city hospitals.
You get free prescriptions too don't you and Scotland too I believe. So it's just the english that pay - interesting. ...
Your option sounds better and is obviously something that they can't think of doing!
tumblespots . We do get free prescriptions also, again I don't understand why England doesn't. Personally I view us all as one country Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and everything should be fair and equal throughout.
With prescriptions thou personally I think that a nominal fee of a few pounds should apply as this must be very costly for the NHS.
Mango4 It can be costly, but I need artificial tears for a condition I have : I can buy them for under £3 so I clearly don't get a prescription for these as that would mean a £9 charge! Not all medicines break the £9 barrier and you have to be canny so that you don't pay through the nose. But I do agree that none of the 4 countries in the UK should pay - we all pay for the NHS through our taxes already.
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