Trust’s parking income hits £12.4 million

The trust running hospitals in Derby and Burton generated £12.4 million in parking revenue over the last four years – with the sum recorded as one of the highest in the country, that is according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

This averages around £3.1 million per year, according to new figures published at a time when there are calls to make hospital car parking fairer. 

But the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) says it offers thousands more parking spaces at its hospitals in comparison to smaller and similar sized organisations – therefore it expects to have a higher amount of car parking income over the course of a year.

The trust runs Royal Derby Hospital, Florence Nightingale Community Hospital, Queen’s Hospital Burton, Samuel Johnson Community Hospital and Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital.

The trust’s £12.4 million cash sum was revealed in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by car retailer cinch, the results of which showed there was only one other NHS trust topping it (from those which responded).

The car supermarket submitted FOI requests to 15 NHS trusts in England, asking for data between 2021 and 2025 on revenue earned through car park fees, car parking charges and the number of car parking spaces available.  

Eight of the trusts responded, which have been analysed to identify which trusts were earning the most revenue from hospital car parking charges. 

According to the data provided, the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust topped the list, generating parking revenue of £14.3 million.

UHDB came second with the £12.4 million figure, followed by NHS trusts in Liverpool (£12.1 million), Mid and South Essex (£10.2 million) and Leeds (£9.6 million).

Car parking at Royal Derby Hospital and Florence Nightingale Community Hospital costs £2.40 for up to one hour. Up to two hours is £3.20 and up to five hours costs £5.20. Daily stays cost £9.

A new multi-storey car park at the Royal Derby Hospital site is under construction, aimed at improving parking spaces for patients. In the meantime a temporary park-and-ride car park has been installed near the Kingsway Retail Park, which is free for patients to use.   

The FOI also asked if staff were charged for parking at the hospital. The trust said for the last financial year: “Charging structures are under current review but at present staff not charged.”

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust said it does offer free parking to patients who regularly attend its hospitals for frequent outpatient appointments, such as those undergoing cancer treatments and who require dialysis.

A UHDB spokesperson said: “As one of the largest trusts in the country caring for a population of over a million people, many thousands of people choose to use the 6,000 car parking spaces across our five hospital sites every year.

“While we do have concessions and reduced charges for some groups of patients, any money generated by our car parks is reinvested into improving services for patients and visitors. Later this year we will be opening a new multi-storey car park at our Royal Derby Hospital site to improve the experience for those using our car parks, following patients and visitors telling us they would like access to more spaces.”

On Facebook, news of the £12.4 million figure raised was criticised by some. One person commented: “Not surprised, it’s scandalous that people are charged for needing medical help or visiting the sick.”

Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, said the figures show just how much hospital parking can cost patients and how it highlights how parking policies differ across the UK.

He said: “Hospital bosses explain that they couldn’t maintain car parks without charging, and the NHS is already under a lot of pressure at the moment. So, it remains to be seen whether a solution that works for everyone is possible in England.”