Disabled people to get free NHS parking

It has been revealed that from April 2020 disabled blue badge holders, frequent outpatient attendees, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts, will not have to pay for NHS car parking.

The new scheme, which has been set out by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock, will see thousands of NHS patients and visitors in England being able to enjoy free hospital car parking. The new plans come as a result of the government looking at car parking capacity across the country and how improved technology could reduce burdens for hospitals.

At the moment NHS trusts are responsible for their own car parking arrangements, including setting the charges. It has been stipulated that profits must be put back into frontline care, but this is about to change.

As of April, all 206 hospital trusts in England are set to offer free car parking to groups of people that will be heading to the hospital on a regular basis, or those impacted by daily or hourly charges. This means that users of stairlifts and others with mobility problems or visitors with long-term health issues that need regular hospital appointments could park for free.

Speaking to The Guardian, Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “Currently, the situation varies from hospital to hospital. Instead, from April, across the country those with the greatest need – such as disabled people, parents staying overnight with sick children in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts – will no longer have to pay for parking.”

In another policy announcement, the transport minister Baroness Vere said that information on bus routes, timetables, location and fares will be easier to access and allow passengers to plan their journeys down to the minute.

This will see bus operators having to provide information on routes and timetables from early 2020 and data on location and fares by 2021.