People who use cars to visit The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn are expected to benefit from a change to the parking tariff.
A proposed change will see motorists pay no more than one pound an hour for parking. The hospital is also reducing the minimum stay to two hours and bringing in a consistent hourly rate for those spending up to five hours.
And a flat rate of £2 for blue badge holders will make the hospital’s tariff fairer for all.
The decision to change the parking tariff was taken by the Trust Board following a request from the hospital’s elected governors.
Trust chairman Edward Libbey said: “We believe that introducing a two-hour parking charge will reduce the cost of parking for a great many visitors and those coming for outpatients’ appointments.
“We also anticipate that introducing a two-hour tariff will help reduce congestion and free up spaces by encouraging people to leave promptly following their appointment.”
Parking for blue badge holders will no longer be free, but the board chose to set a flat rate to ensure that they were not disadvantaged should they need extra time to attend their appointment.
Mr Libbey continued: “The trust currently has more than 70 spaces designated for blue badge holders and is acutely aware of the issues they face, however, a blue badge does not automatically entitle the holder to free parking. What it does is ensure easy access parking as close as possible to the hospital.
“Anyone who is unable to pay for either their travel or parking due to their financial circumstances is able to apply for a refund for both through the national NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.”
The trust is currently in the process of upgrading its car parks.
