Hospital Trust Makes Extra £675,000 From Parking After Charges Rise

Hospital Parking Revenue Jumps £676,000 After Charges Increase

Hospital Trust Makes Extra £675,000 From Parking After Charges Rise A Lincolnshire hospital trust generated an extra £675,000 from parking last year after increasing charges for patients and visitors. United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals (ULHT) collected £1,835,894 in parking revenue during 2025/26, up £676,442 from the £1,159,452 raised the previous year. The figures came from a Freedom of Information request and cover parking at Lincoln County, Boston Pilgrim and Grantham and District hospitals. The increase has prompted criticism from campaigners, with Healthwatch Lincolnshire saying it was concerned about higher parking costs for people using the hospitals. Hospital parking charges increased ULHT increased its parking charges in July 2025. The price of a one-hour ticket rose from £1 to £2, while a two-hour ticket increased from £2 to £3. A three-hour stay went from £2 to £4, while four-hour parking increased from £2 to £5. Despite the increase in revenue, the trust's total parking income for 2025/26 remained below its forecast of £2,060,879. Blue Badge holders, motorcyclists and cancer patients can still park free of charge at the hospitals. Councillor Charmaine Morgan criticised the increase, arguing that hospital parking costs could be particularly difficult for people in a rural county where alternative public transport is limited. She also said she had seen complaints about difficulties finding parking spaces and called on the trust to increase capacity at its car parks. Trust says parking income supports wider work Healthwatch Lincolnshire said parking can affect people's ability to access health services and raised concerns that higher charges could create an additional barrier for patients, visitors and carers. The organisation also called for greater transparency over how the additional parking income is being used. ULHT said revenue from parking charges contributes to wider work aimed at improving the experience of patients, visitors and staff. The trust's group chief estates and facilities officer, Mike Parkhill, said ULHT had invested in its car parks over the previous three years, including increasing capacity, improving surfaces and creating additional disabled and parent-and-child parking. For drivers visiting hospitals, the figures highlight why checking parking charges and available facilities before a planned appointment can be useful. Finding suitable parking in advance can also make visits less stressful, particularly when attending an unfamiliar hospital site. For motorists travelling to hospitals or other busy destinations, services such as EveryonesParking can also help drivers look for parking options before setting off, where spaces are available.