Disabled people, frequent outpatient attendees, parents of sick children staying overnight and night shift staff will not have to pay for car parking at Grantham Hospital from April.

The free car parking provision has been set out by Health Secretary Matt Hancock today (Fri).

Currently, like all NHS hospital trusts, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) is responsible for making its own car parking arrangements, including setting any charges. Any profits must be reinvested into frontline care.

From April 2020, all 206 hospital trusts in England will be expected to provide free car parking to groups that may be frequent hospital visitors, or those disproportionately impacted by daily or hourly charges for parking, including:

• Blue Badge holders
• frequent outpatients who have to attend regular appointments to manage long-term conditions

Free parking will also be offered at specific times of day to certain people, including:

• parents of sick children staying in hospital overnight
• staff working night shifts

There are more than 200 car parking spaces available for patients and visitors at Grantham and District Hospital.

Free parking is currently available for:

• Oncology patients receiving regular treatment
• Collection of prescriptions and hearing aid batteries
• Parents attending to support a child's needs in the special care baby unit
• Clergy visiting parishioners
• Following bereavement
• Adults accompanying children for emergency treatment

Otherwise car parking charges are £1.70 for up to an hour, £4.20 for one to four hours and £5 for more than four hours. Regular attendees or visitors can purchase 10 days of flexible parking for £20, valid for six months.

Blue Badge holders are eligible for a parking concession, making the daily charge £1.90, and concessions are also available for outpatients in receipt of certain social security benefits.

The amount staff pay for parking varies depending upon their salary and how they choose to pay, but is between about £12 and £25 per month.

Last year ULHT announced it would be cutting all staff car parking charges in half by April 2020 and abolishing them by April 2021.

Today's announcement by the Health Secretary will bring forward the free car parking provision for night shift workers.

Director of Estates and Facilities at ULHT Paul Boocock said today: "We currently offer a range of car parking concessions for patients and visitors to our hospitals, including free parking for cancer patients receiving regular treatment, parents of children in the special care baby unit and those requiring emergency treatment and following bereavements. 

"We also offer a reduced car parking charge for regular visitors.

"We are awaiting guidance from the Department of Health on the new concessions and will work to comply with them. 

"At present, the income from car parks covers the cost of providing the facilities at our hospitals including maintenance and security, barriers and ticket machines, administration for car parks, capital investments, rates, lighting and CCTV."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This month millions of people put their trust in this government to deliver.

"One of the concerns mentioned regularly on the doorsteps was that vulnerable people and staff working nights have to pay for hospital car parking.

"So we are today delivering on our manifesto commitment and setting out our new approach to NHS hospital parking charges.

"Currently, the situation varies from hospital to hospital.

"Instead, from April, across the country those with the greatest need - such as disabled people, parents staying overnight with sick children in hospital, and NHS staff working nightshifts - will no longer have to pay for parking.

"This is yet another example of how this government is delivering on our promises and focusing on the people's priorities."