Hospitals received £96.7 million in parking fees from patients and visitors in 2021/2022, double the £48 million charged the previous year. In addition, NHS staff paid £5.6 million in fees.
Hospital confidence in Coventry and Warwickshire took in £4.1m followed by hospital confidence in Derby and Burton which brought in £2.5m and the confidence in Mid and South Essex which brought in £2.4m.
The huge costs come despite a promise to tackle unfair parking charges.
The conservative 2019 general election manifesto included a pledge to “end unfair hospital parking charges by making free parking for those in greatest need, including the disabled, frequent ambulant visitors, parents of sick children staying overnight, and staff working night shifts.” “.
Free parking in hospital car parks for NHS staff was temporarily introduced during the pandemic but ended on April 1 this year.
Lib Dems called the allowances a “tax on the sick and a tax on care”. They have urged the government to take action to cut reimbursements for patients and visitors during the cost of living emergency. They suggested that this would be paid for by the government rather than coming from overstretched hospital budgets.
Lib Dem’s health and social care spokesperson, Daisy Cooper, said: “The declining hospital parking fees are another blow to people dealing with higher energy costs and food prices. It’s a tax on the sick and a tax on healthcare. for those who want to visit their loved ones in the hospital.”
“The government must provide the additional funding needed to eliminate parking fees for patients and their relatives during this cost-of-living emergency.”
“Every cent and every pound will make a difference for struggling families,” she added.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Social Care said: “This data does not reflect our commitment to introducing free hospital parking for those who need it most – and comes from before we fully delivered on our promise.”
“Any NHS trust that charges for car parking now has free hospital parking spaces for NHS staff working at night, blue badge holders, parents of sick children and frequent visitors,” they said. .
“This is the first time that NHS hospital parking spaces across England have been free for these groups.”