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Devon's main hospitals make £6m in parking charges

Devon's main hospitals made more than £6 million from parking charges in the last year.

They were among hospitals across England taking £174.5m in parking charges in 2016-17, up 6% on the year before, according to data collected by the Press Association. 
 

Some 120 NHS trusts across England were asked to give figures on parking charges and fines under the Freedom of Information Act, of which 111 responded.

The breakdown of charges:

  • Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust - £2,055,392
  • Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust - £2,327,316
  • Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust - £1,029,915
  • Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust - £619,434

A spokesperson for the Exeter hospital said:

“We provide free parking for disabled Blue Badge holders and we provide free parking for patients undergoing regular treatment in certain departments, such as cancer, diabetes, renal services and the neonatal unit. Visitors dropping off or collecting patients can get a free 20-minute ticket and we also offer discretionary free parking to carers and next of kin for patients staying in hospital for a long period.

 

“All parking-related income we receive, including enforcement fines, is ploughed directly back into patient care and providing vital frontline services. It also helps to subsidise other transport initiatives such as the hospital’s busy Park and Ride service for patients, visitors and staff.”

 

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