Frimley Health NHS Trust made £18 million from charging patients, visitors and staff car parking

The Trust has made over millions from hospital car parking charges in the past five years, figures reveal.

The Bracknell News carried out an investigation into how much the trust made from Heatherwood Hospital, Frimley Park and Wexham Hospital.

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As one of the highest-earning trusts in England, figures obtained from the freedom of information request show it made £4,452,481 from charging staff, patients and visitors in 2017-18.

This was up on the £4,126,587 it made the year before.

Out of Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot and Wexham Park in Slough, Frimley Park Hospital in Camberley generated the most income from car parking fees - at £9,839,595 million.

Breakdown of key facts:

• Frimley Park Hospital made nearly £1 million from charging NHS staff, at £937,178 from 2014 to 2019.
• Frimley Park made the most from charging patients and visitors for parking on the site at £2,089,855.
• Frimley Health Trust made the most money from hospital car parking charges in 2018/19 at £4,962,583.

Campaigners have called the parking fees 'unfair' for patients who have no choice but to park at hospitals.

Earlier this year, MPs warned the government that urgent action needs should be taken to end hospital car parking charges.

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Harry Fone, grassroots campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "These charges hit patients hard, particularly the more vulnerable in society who are under the increased financial pressure that illness can bring.

"Taxpayers have already paid for the construction of the hospital and the car park, they shouldn't have to pay twice. The trust shouldn't see parking changes as a revenue raiser.

"Instead it should focus on spending money more efficiently rather than dipping into the pockets of patients."

Frimley Health NHS Trust has been contacted for a comment.