NHS/DoH Guidance — Hospital Parking Free for Disabled, Frequent Outpatients, and Carers
NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have issued guidance requiring NHS trusts to provide free parking for: disabled badge holders, frequent outpatients (including cancer patients on regular treatment), carers, and others in financial hardship. While not strictly legally binding on private operators running hospital car parks, this guidance creates a legitimate expectation. Many NHS trusts include free parking obligations in their contracts with private operators — breach of which is a ground to waive any charge.
Legal basis
NHS England Guidance on Hospital Car Parking (2019); DoH/DHSC guidance; NHS trust contractual obligations; Equality Act 2010
How to identify this in your case
You or your passenger are a disabled Blue Badge holder, a frequent hospital outpatient (e.g. chemotherapy, dialysis, regular treatments), or a carer visiting a patient regularly. The hospital car park is managed by a private company. Check the NHS trust's own parking policy — it should provide for free parking in these cases.
Sample appeal wording
I am writing to appeal the parking charge [reference] incurred at [hospital name] on [date]. I am a [disabled badge holder / frequent outpatient receiving [treatment] / carer for [patient name]] attending [hospital] for [purpose of visit]. NHS England's guidance on hospital car parking (updated 2019) requires NHS trusts to provide free parking for patients and visitors in my circumstances. The NHS trust is [trust name]. I understand that the trust's contract with [parking operator] includes obligations to honour free parking for these categories of visitor. I request: 1. Cancellation of this parking charge 2. Confirmation of the free parking arrangements available to patients in my circumstances 3. A copy of the relevant section of the parking operator's contract with the trust If this charge is not cancelled, I will raise a formal complaint with [trust name]'s Patient Experience team and with NHS England.
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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Scan my ticketSources
- NHS England Guidance on Hospital Car Parking 2019
- DHSC guidance