Hospital parking charges to rise at Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust sites
Car parking charges are set to increase increase across Northumberland hospitals with tighter enforcement measures.
From Monday, June 1, updated charges will be effective across all Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust sites including: Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, Wansbeck General Hospital, Alnwick Community Hospital and Berwick Infirmary.
The trust say that the update reflects rising operational and maintenance costs associated with running and maintaining car parking facilities, as well as supporting continued investment in patient care and services.
Alongside the increase in car parking charges, the trust will also introduce enhanced parking enforcement from July to help reduce unauthorised or irresponsible parking.
Car parks will be patrolled to ensure vehicles are parked appropriately, including within marked bays. This will apply across both staff and visitor car parks.
For the first two months, warning notices will be issued to allow time for adjustment to the changes. After this, penalty charge notices (PCNs) will apply where requirements are not met. The PCN rate is £50, with a reduced rate of £25 if paid within 14 days.
Damon Kent, managing director of estates and facilities at the trust said: “We understand that any increase in charges may be concerning, particularly during a time when many people are facing financial pressures.
“However, this is the first increase we have made since 2020, and it has been carefully considered. We have kept the rises to a minimum – just 20p per hour in most cases, and have also increased the time limit for free parking from 20 to 30 minutes.
“The income generated from car parking plays an important role in helping us maintain our sites and reinvest in patient care. We remain committed to keeping charges as fair and reasonable as possible, while continuing to provide high-quality care for our communities.”
The new charges are: free for up to 30 minutes, £3.30 up to two hours, £4.20 up to three hours, £5.20 up to four hours and £6.20 up to 24 hours.
The trust added that it will ensure that clear information is in place across all sites and online ahead of the changes coming into effect. Blue badge holders will continue to park for free.