Patients, visitors, and staff at Cornwall's hospitals paid more than £600,000 in parking charges in 2021/22. The new figures have led to calls for the Government to scrap all hospital parking charges as they are a "tax on the sick".

The latest data from the NHS show that in 2021/22 patients and visitors paid £466,522 in parking charges whilst staff paid £150,208. The figures are for charges at car parks at hospitals operated by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT).

Car parks at RCHT sites are operated by another company, which has a contract for parking, that pays a fee to the trust. Income from parking charges will be used to pay for services as well as the maintenance and upkeep of the car parks.

However, Liberal Democrats in Cornwall have called on the Government to scrap the charges which they say are "a tax on the sick". Ruth Gripper, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth, said: "As our hospitals are pushed to breaking point, it is local people who are paying the price.

The Lib Den candidate went on to say: "This is a tax on the sick and a tax on caring in Cornwall, people in Cornwall not only have to worry about terrible waiting times and understaffed hospitals but also whether they can even afford to visit loved ones. Public transport often is not an option for people trying to get to hospital, and the cost of parking on top of the price of fuel is just one more stress for people, at what is already a very stressful time."

"The government should provide the funding needed to scrap parking charges for patients and relatives. It is completely wrong that local residents have to shell out thousands of pounds to see their ill loved ones during this cost of living emergency." Ruth added.

In a statement, RCHT said: "Parking is free for blue badge holders and there is also access to a limited number of free spaces for some frequent patients and parents. Patients in receipt of qualifying benefits are also entitled to reclaim the cost of parking charges as part of the national hospital travel scheme and many do take advantage of this.

"Management of our car parks on behalf of RCHT was taken over by Saba UK this month and any future income we receive will be used to support patient care and services, as well as the ongoing maintenance of the car parks and equipment.

"Limited space for car parking at our hospitals, particularly for staff, is one of our biggest challenges, as it would be unfair to remove charging for those parking on site when others have to use the park and ride or other paid-for options."

Cherilyn Mackrory, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: "I appreciate the concern that patients and their families in Cornwall have about unfair parking charges, at what may already be an extremely difficult time.

"Parking charges at RCHT were introduced in the early 1990s to ensure enough spaces for visitors and staff. This is a matter for the RCHT to determine, as different NHS Trusts will have different policies on this matter, but the Government's NHS car parking guidance for NHS trusts sets out the mandatory requirement to provide free parking for those with the greatest need. This includes disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts. This will eliminate costs for those in need while making sure there are enough spaces for everyone.

"I have spoken with the local hospital trust about this and have been assured that this guidance is being applied, with free parking for blue badge holders and for some frequent patients and parents.

"I have been assured that the income generated from the car parks goes back into the hospital and is used to support patient care and services. If hospital car parking charges were abolished, this income would need to come from another source. It is right that the Government is investing a record £39billion in our NHS and social care. RCHT has also recently received £2.8million for A&E upgrades, £1.7m to tackle backlog maintenance and £9.1m to improve clinical care facilities. I would remind people that it was also this Government that cleared RCHT's historic debt to the tune of £42.5m."