Worst NHS hospital car parks named

The NHS hospitals with the worst records when it comes to car park fees and enforcement have been revealed.

Using information from 126 Freedom of Information requests, consumer watchdog Which? has identified Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust Hospitals as having the highest minimum charge (£4) for 2 hours of parking.

Meanwhile, Royal Derby Hospital received the most complaints with 82, while Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust clamped the most cars in 2008-09 with 1,671.

The hospital that issued the most parking fines was Leeds General Infirmary which gave out 10,330 tickets generating £142,000.

A previous survey by Which? revealed that 70 per cent of people have experienced problems with an NHS hospital car park.

The organisation is now calling on NHS hospitals to improve their parking facilities by making them fairer and cheaper for patients and visitors.

Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: "Visiting hospital is stressful enough without having to worry about being clamped or getting a ticket. Surely this is now the end of the road for the worst hospital car parks?"

Authorities in Scotland abolished car park charges for the country's NHS hospitals in 2008.

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