THE NHS trust which runs Colchester Hospital raked in more than £2.5million from visitor car parking fees in the last year, new figures have revealed. 

The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) received a gross income of £2,525,138 from patients or relatives paying to park at its hospitals.

The findings mean the trust is ranked as 8th highest in the country when it comes to the amount of money visitors paid for hospital parking between 2022 and 2023. 

Mark Johnston-Wood, deputy director of estates and facilities at ESNEFT, said the income generated from parking charges is put towards car park maintenance and travel facilities, including security, lighting, and surfacing.

Gazette: Charge - In Colchester General Hospital the average fee per hour for patient/visitor parking was £1.33 while for staff members it was £0.18 per hourCharge - In Colchester General Hospital the average fee per hour for patient/visitor parking was £1.33 while for staff members it was £0.18 per hour (Image: Newsquest)

He also stressed free car parking is available for 30 minutes and those who are blue badge holders, patients receiving cancer treatment, frequent outpatients and parents of sick children staying overnight are all exempt.

Mr Johnston-Wood said: “Although car parking is not free for all visitors, our daily charges are reduced through our three, five and seven-day permits to support relatives of patients who are in hospital for longer lengths of time.”

Bosses at ESNEFT said it takes in comparatively more income than other trusts because it has a large number of car parking spaces, including 1,910 spaces at Colchester Hospital.

Julia Brandon, however, believes parking at Colchester Hospital should be free. 

She said: "Most people are anxious enough when visiting sick relatives or friends at hospital so personally I don’t think anyone should be charged for parking.

"We all pay for the NHS so why should a parking company profit even more? But it won’t make a difference what anyone says, we will always be charged."

Chris Henschel, meanwhile, is somewhat divided. 

He said: "Having spent a lot of time at the hospital with my son it frustrates me having to pay for parking as it can work out very expensive.

"However, if Colchester Hospital was free then there would never be spaces and people would abuse it."

Regarding staff parking charges, ESNEFT also received a total of £120,595 from hospital staff over the same time period. 

Patricia Sayer said: "Sorry but the staff should not have to pay - their jobs are stressful enough without having to worry about paying for car parking."