PARKING charges will return at Worcestershire’s hospitals for patients and visitors from Monday (August 8), the health trust has confirmed.
Car parking has been free at the Worcestershire Royal, Redditch’s Alexandra and Kidderminster’s Treatment Centre since March 2020 and the onset of the pandemic.
Trust chiefs snubbed a Government move in April to reintroduce charges in favour of extending the perk until the end of June citing a ‘review of its parking policy’.
But having lifted visiting restrictions in June, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has now confirmed charges will return.
“We have continued to offer free parking for much longer than many other NHS Trusts, but with the number of patients and visitors coming onto our sites increasing, parking charges for patients and visitors will be reintroduced from Monday at each of our three hospitals,” the trust said.
There will be no changes to the free parking for Blue Badge holders and the Trust has confirmed a number of concessions will remain.
Those visiting an immediate relative who is a long-stay patient or who are patients receiving regular treatment may be eligible for a reduced-fee parking pass.
Concessions are available for terminally ill patients, those undergoing cardiac exercise, those in the Coronary Care Unit, Intensive Therapy Unit, Critical Care Unit, oncology or paediatrics.
Cases of bereavement and those in long stay treatment or on the renal unit may also qualify for a concession.
