Hospital parking fee scandal continues, analysis shows one site costs £76 a day

Hospitals are putting pressure on ambulance services by charging up to £76.80 a day for parking, campaigners warned yesterday.

They said the very high parking charges meant that many sick Britons could no longer afford to drive to A&E and instead resorted to 999 cars.

Researchers analyzed the parking costs of 120 hospitals in the UK and found St. Thomas’ Hospital in the middle. London was the highest at £3.20 per hour and £76.80 per day. Seven of the top 10 locations with the highest 24-hour parking charges were in the capital.

A survey by car dealer Motorfinity found that Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge was the most expensive outside of London at £22.

NHS hospitals can charge for parking, but the price must be “reasonable for the area”, according to Ministry of Health guidance.

Trusts must provide free parking for some groups, such as disabled patients staying overnight and parents of sick children.

Tory MP Mike Penning, who has campaigned against hospital parking fees, said: “Drivers are being kicked out by trusts that charge exorbitant fees and use parking lots to make money. is morally wrong.

“If patients can’t afford to park, they pass the pressure on to others, including friends, relatives and the ambulance service.”

Motorfinity’s Dean Skiba said:

A spokesman for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust said: ‘The £3.20 hourly parking fee is in line with local parking facilities.’

Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers representing the Trust, said: