A Cambridgeshire NHS foundation trust more than doubled its hospital car park revenue last year, it has been revealed. 

The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust – which runs Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, and Peterborough City Hospital – generated £842,000 from its car parks in 2021/22.  

This increased to £1.75m in the following 2022/23 financial year – the highest rise of any other Cambridgeshire trust.   

While the trust put up car parking charges in August 2023, it also explained the figures reflect an increase in hospital visitors and patients after Covid-19 restrictions were eased.  

Cambs Times: Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough.Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough. (Image: Chris Radburn / PA Archive / PA Images)Hannah Coffey, Chief Executive Officer, at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, acknowledged “any rise in costs for parking is not good news”. 

However, she added: “We have made some careful considerations to ensure that our range of concessionary rates for patients and visitors remain in place and any increases in charges are kept to a minimum in consideration of the current economic climate.   

“In reviewing our patient parking charges in August 2023, we opted to retain free parking for Blue Badge holders, for patients receiving cancer treatment and our trust staff members.  

“All previous concessionary rates for parking also remain in place to continue to support our longer-term patients, and their relatives or carers.”  

Before Covid-19, the trust’s car park income from 2019/20 was £2.8m.  

Elsewhere in Cambridgeshire, the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which runs Addenbrooke’s Hospital and The Rosie generated £5,600 from car park revenue last year.  

This compares to zero the year before when charges were suspended during the pandemic.  

A trust spokesperson said: “Since charges were reintroduced, we continue to offer discounted parking for outpatients and parents of children who are inpatients.  

“Some visitors are also able to park for free, and information about reduced charges is clearly displayed throughout our car parks, walkways and in our hospitals.” 

The Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Foundation Trust - which looks after the Princess of Wales Hospital, in Ely, and North Cambs Hospital, in Wisbech, - did not generate any income from parking.