Readers react to new Watford General Hospital car park charges

The new seven-floor car park officially opened to patients and visitors on Friday, but news of some increased charges has caused some upset with dozens of comments on the Observer Facebook page.

The car park, which has around 1,300 spaces, is a welcome addition at the hospital mostly because it takes away the need for people to walk up a steep slope.

Drivers will also only have to pay upon exiting which means they'll only pay for how long they've actually parked for.

But the amount drivers will have to pay to park in the new car park has caused some controversy.

Some charges have jumped such as a two-hour stay now costs £5 instead of £3 and four hours costs £8 instead of £6.

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One reader, Nelly Dolphin, commented: “I knew it would happen, but this is bloody expensive - £5 for two hours?

“Forcing people to pay because they will have no choice.”

While there is a 30-minute free parking period, Lucia Lorena Del Greco said: “I believe it is not fair to pay too much for the car park because people have to wait so long to wait their turn for an appointment.”

The new Watford General Hospital car park

Sue Lamont equated it to “making money from the sick who have no choice” and questioned why it can be cheaper to park nearer to the town centre.

Others however were in support, as Bryan Davey said: “They have just built a new car park. To my mind therefore, it’s not surprising that car parking costs have gone up.

“I think the priority for NHS cash should be healthcare, not subsidising parking.”

Visitors and patients can now pay as they leave

The West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Watford General, says that public charges have been “set in line with other hospitals in the region”.

A spokesperson added: "We understand that paying for parking at hospitals is unwelcome. We have worked hard to come up with a charging structure that helps us to cover the costs of the car park and provides a range of concessions. The new '30 minutes free' parking should be a benefit for many, including those dropping off at maternity. 

"The much-improved facilities in our new multi-storey car park and the changes we are making to parking facilities across our sites cannot be achieved without investment and so income from charges will be used to cover those costs."

There is now easier access to the main hospital building

Free parking is available to blue badge holders, as well as carers assisting patients, next of kin patients receiving end of life care, patients or carers or guardians of children who are inpatients and patients who attend three times or more each month over at least three months.

There are also 100 electric vehicle charging bays and 72 disabled bays, almost doubling the current offering, equipped with lifts and stairs and providing access to wheelchairs.