Nearly £180,000 was made last year from visitors and patients parking at the Isle of Wight’s only hospital.
Figures recently released by NHS England has revealed just how much parking income hospitals across the country have made.
£180,000 income
In England, between 1st April 2022, and 31st March 2023, the hospitals and the NHS trusts which runs them, made £145.8 million.
On the Island, earning a fraction of the total sum, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust brought in £179,240.
Income supports security service and maintenance
A spokesperson for the Island trust said the income generated from parking charges is used to provide a security service at St Mary’s Hospital and maintain the car parks across the site.
They said any additional revenue is invested back into supporting patient care.
Neighbouring Trusts attract millions
Across the water, at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, £2,535,729 was made from parking charges.
At the Portsmouth Hospital University NHS Trust, the body pocketed £1,714,068.
Increase in parking fees
Back on the Island, parking fees went up in October, in line with inflation, the IOW NHS Trust said.
It now costs patients and visitors £1.70 to park for up to an hour; £2.90 for one to two hours; £4.80 for up to four hours; £6.20 for between four and six hours and £9 for up to a 24-hour stay.
Free parking
Parking is free for Blue Badge holders; visitors of long-term inpatients (over 14 days) and frequent outpatients who attend two or more appointments a week for a four-week period.
The hospital also has designated drop-off points for up to 30 minutes.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
