Debate contribution: Hospital Parking Charges Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Alan Chambers on 10 March 2026.

MLA: Mr Alan Chambers
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 10 March 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Hospital Parking Charges Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5436958

Text

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Second Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill. I suspect that most Members would agree that, in an ideal world, hospital parking would be free. Patients attending hospital and staff who work in our health service face enough challenges and worries without having to think about the cost of parking. We all recognise, however, that we do not live in an ideal world. If we did, the Health Minister would not have the in tray that he currently does, bulging with pressures and problems. Our responsibility is to deal with the circumstances that we face now. In reality, the financial pressures that face our health and social care system are extremely serious. The Department of Health faces projected funding gaps that will run into many hundreds of millions of pounds over the coming years. In such circumstances, every decision about expenditure and income must be considered carefully. Hospital car parking charges currently generate around £7 million a year. That might appear modest in the context of the overall Health budget, but, given the level of financial strain that the system is under, £7 million is not insignificant. It represents resources that help to support patient services, staffing and the day-to-day running of hospitals. If that income were to be removed immediately, the money would have to be found elsewhere in an already overstretched budget. That inevitably raises difficult questions about where the savings would be made. My party and I believe that protecting front-line health services must always be the priority. The Bill does not abandon the principle of ending hospital parking charges. Instead, it recognises that the financial position of the health service is now so serious that the immediate implementation of a ban simply is not affordable. The legislation therefore proposes the deferral of the ban on parking charges, allowing time for the financial position of the health service to stabilise. Importantly, that is not an open-ended delay: the Bill provides for a maximum deferral period of three years, with 12 May 2029 as a backstop date. At that point, the Assembly will have the opportunity to assess the financial position and decide on next steps. That seems, to me, to be a pragmatic and balanced approach by the Minister, keeping the policy objective alive while recognising the financial reality that we face. It is important to highlight the fact that considerable work has been undertaken by health and social care trusts to prepare for the eventual implementation of free parking. Significant investment has been made in modern traffic management systems, including through the installation of automatic number plate recognition technology across hospital sites. That investment will not be wasted. The systems that have been put in place will now help to ensure that hospital car parks are managed effectively, protecting access routes for emergency vehicles and ensuring that spaces are available for legitimate users. Hospital parking is not simply a financial issue; it is a practical one. Parking capacity across our hospital estate is limited, and demand often exceeds supply. Across the health and social care estate, just under 20,000 parking spaces are available across hospital sites, yet the workforce numbers more than 70,000. That is before we even consider patients and visitors, who also rely on those facilities every day. Managing that demand is a complex challenge, requiring fair systems that prioritise those who genuinely need access to parking. During the deferral period, staff parking permits will remain free of charge, and a needs-based system will continue to operate to ensure that those staff who require on-site parking the most can obtain it. That is an important reassurance for healthcare workers who depend on access to hospital sites as part of their daily work. It is worth noting that the current system includes a number of exemptions and concessions that are designed to support patients with particular needs. For example, patients who receive treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or renal dialysis are eligible for free parking.
I welcome the fact that the trusts also have the discretion to provide concessions for patients who face frequent or prolonged hospital visits and that those on low incomes may reclaim travel and parking costs through existing support schemes. Those are all important safeguards. In conclusion, the Bill represents a pragmatic response to a very difficult situation. As I said, the protection of front-line care must come first. For those reasons, I will be supporting the motion, and I encourage colleagues across the House to do likewise.

758 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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