Rise in hospital parking cost

Parking charges at King’s Mill Hospital are to increase next month - but bosses say it is still cheaper to park there than at many neighbouring hospitals.
Car parking charges at King's Mill Hospital are increasing.Car parking charges at King's Mill Hospital are increasing.
Car parking charges at King's Mill Hospital are increasing.

The decision has been made in light of a freeze to parking costs since 2011 and as Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - which runs King’s Mill - continues to face significant financial challenges.

From November 1, the cost of parking for between 25 minutes and an hour will go up from £1.50 to £1.80, while the cost of parking for between one and four hours will be £3.50, up from £3.

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A seven day saver will be £12.50 - a 25 per cent increase on the current £10 price - while a four week saver will be £30 - up 20 per cent from £25.

Peter Wozencroft, director of Strategic Planning and Commercial Development at the Trust said: “We have not taken this decision lightly, and appreciate that any increases in car parking charges will be unwelcome.

“Nevertheless, we provide excellent car parking facilities, which are expensive to maintain and operate.

“We need to strike a balance that can maintain the level of provision, ensure charges are affordable for our patients and visitors, and ensure that our clinical services are maintained.”

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The car parks at King’s Mill and Newark Hospital - which is also affected - have 1,988 spaces and it has been estimated that the increase in charges will raise an additional £268,000 this financial year.

The trust is currently facing a £44.5m budget deficit in 2015/16.

At nearby Nottingham University Hospitals Trust car parks, patients mostly pay more to park than at King’s Mill, paying £2 to park for between 25 mintues and an hour and £5 to park for between two and four hours.

Staff car parking at the trust increased in April 1 and go up the Retail Price Index (RPI) every year.

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Patient and visitor car parking charges will also now follow the RPI annually.

The Trust is in discussion with two local bus companies, looking into the possibility of bringing public transport ‘on to the hospital site’, in order to reduce the walking distance from the bus stop to the hospital main entrance.

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