Luton & Dunstable revealed as one of UK's most expensive hospitals for parking

A&E patients at Luton and Dunstable hospital could be forced to pay up to £20 for 24-hours parking, new research has revealed.

The report, compiled by specialist discount car group Motorfinity, analysed parking charge data from more than 120 of the UK’s top hospitals to determine which is the most expensive for patient and visitor car parking for a 24-hour period. The cost of six hours’ parking was also included in the findings as a guide to highlight the difference in price.

With many hospitals now re-introducing parking charges for patients and staff, Motorfinity conducted the research to highlight just how much some hospitals are charging.

Finishing third in the list of most expensive hospitals outside London was Luton & Dunstable Hospital with patients and visitors charged a whopping £20 for 24 hours parking.

The L&D also charges patients £8 for just six hours of parking.

However, the hospital says there are concessions available for some of its patient groups, including those receiving cancer treatment or next of kin of intensive care patients.

Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has the most expensive parking charges at £22 for 24 hours and 13.30 for six hours.

Dean Skiba, chief operating officer at Motorfinity, said: “Some of the charges found in this research are pretty eye-watering.

“For most, A&E is a last resort when seriously injured or ill; couple this with a hefty parking charge and it can be an extremely unpleasant and unsettling experience.

“Like A&E departments, ambulance services are also at capacity and the charges certainly won’t encourage those who are able to travel by car to do so.

“Some UK hospitals offer concessions and discounts where necessary but for the vast majority of people, these charges are a harsh reality. Households are at breaking point with the cost of living crisis and these charges will surely be a concern to many.”

How much is parking at L&D hospital?

During the pandemic hospital parking was free for NHS staff and health and social care staff.

However charges in England were reinstated in April 2022 though there is free parking for staff working night shifts (where the shift starts after 7.30pm and ends before 8am).

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Trust outsources an external company to manage our car parking services but prices are determined by the Trust itself and all income is retained to reinvest in patient care.

“Our long-stay parking charges are higher than average, as the hospital is located near central travel links such as Luton airport, and we need to ensure our car parking spaces are protected and available for patients and visitors when they need them. Our short-stay car parking charges compare very favourably with NHS charges elsewhere and are lower than surrounding hospitals. The vast majority of patients and visitors only need to use the hospital car parks for short to medium periods of time.

“Wherever possible, we do offer concessionary parking rates for some of our patient groups. This includes free parking for blue badge holders, capped parking rates for patients receiving cancer treatment, next of kin to intensive care patients and paediatric and neonatal inpatients and for pregnant women/people in labour and their birthing partners.”