We’ve provided free parking at Welsh NHS hospitals for patients, visitors and staff since 2008, scrapping what the BMA called “a tax on the sick”.

Patients, staff and visitors to Welsh NHS hospitals have enjoyed free car parking since 2008, removing what the British Medical Association described as “a tax on the sick”.

Wales became the first UK nation to abolish parking charges.  A small number of hospitals who had private contracts in place were told to immediately reduce parking costs until their contracts expired.

In the year before Welsh Labour’s announcement, a staggering £5.4 million was paid by patients and visitors just for parking their car to attend a hospital appointment or visit a sick relative.

Unlike Wales, hospitals in England continue to charge for parking.

Welsh Labour’s Health Minister Vaughan Gething said:

“Car parking charges fell heavily on people frequently attending NHS hospitals, whether they are patients, staff or visitors.  They were at best an inconvenience and at worst an unfair expense.

 

We continue to work to make hospitals more accessible by public transport or active travel but realise that for many people, travelling to hospital by car is a necessity.

 

I’m incredibly proud that our Welsh Labour Government removed parking charges from NHS hospitals in Wales and I look forward to a UK Labour government replicating this policy across England.”