Patient Transport Exemption — NHS Ambulance and Hospital Transport Vehicles
Vehicles operated by NHS ambulance trusts and patient transport services (PTS) have implied authority to park on NHS land in connection with their patient transport duties. A private parking company managing NHS car parks has no authority to issue charges to NHS patient transport vehicles attending to transport patients. Any charge issued to an NHS transport vehicle is ultra vires the operator's contract with the trust.
Legal basis
NHS trust contract with parking operator (implied terms); NHS England guidance; Equality Act 2010 (patient transport often involves disabled patients)
How to identify this in your case
An NHS patient transport vehicle, ambulance, or community transport minibus has received a parking charge at an NHS site. The vehicle is operated by an NHS body or its contracted transport provider. This should never have been charged.
Sample appeal wording
I am writing on behalf of [NHS Trust / PTS Provider] to appeal parking charge [reference] issued to vehicle [registration] at [hospital/NHS site] on [date]. This vehicle is an NHS patient transport / ambulance service vehicle operated by [organisation] under contract with [NHS Trust]. It was parked at [location] in direct performance of patient transport duties. NHS operational vehicles attending NHS sites in connection with patient care have explicit or implied authority under the NHS trust's arrangements with the parking operator to park in connection with operational duties. This parking charge is completely misconceived. It should be cancelled immediately. We request confirmation of cancellation within 5 working days. If this charge is not cancelled, we will escalate to [NHS Trust] Chief Executive and to NHS England.
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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Scan my ticketSources
- NHS England patient transport guidance
- Implied terms in NHS/operator contracts