Hospital car parks make millions

Officials from Norfolk's flagship hospital have defended its car parking charges after a report showed it netted nearly £2m in a year. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital made £1,707,505 between March 2005/2006, behind Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.

Officials from Norfolk's flagship hospital have defended its car parking charges after a report showed it netted nearly £2m in a year.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital made £1,707,505 between March 2005/2006, behind Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.

But Andrew Stronach, N&N spokesman, said: “Members of the public who come to the hospital by car face the following charges for parking; the first 30 minutes are free (so for picking up and dropping off people at the hospital there is absolutely no charge) then £2 for three hours parking. Parking in the evening and at weekends is also a flat-rate charge of £2.

“The fact that we treat more patients than any other hospital in this region explains why car park revenue is higher as more than 600,000 patients a year are treated by this trust.

“Our car parking charges are also lower than equivalent sized local hospitals such as Addenbrooke's, Ipswich and even the QE in King's Lynn and the income received has to cover the cost of running and maintaining the car parks and any surplus is reinvested into funds for patient care.”

Concessions are also in place for long-term patients.

The House of Commons Health Select Committee report of 30 trusts found while the average car parking space generated about £200 per year, some made up to £2,000.