Changes to parking charges at Oxford University Hospitals

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) will introduce new parking charges for patients and visitors at its three Oxford hospital sites from Tuesday 1 August 2023.

This is the first time the Trust has increased parking charges since 2017, and the changes have been put in place following a detailed review.

The changes, which see a reduction for those spending less time on the sites and increases for longer stayers, will be introduced in the visitor car parks at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford.

Charges at the patient and visitor car parks at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury remain unchanged because they are similar to nearby public car parks.

As the average parking time for patients and visitors is under three hours, the Trust has lowered the tariff for those parking for 1-2 and 2-3 hours by 10p and 50p respectively.

Anyone parked for more than six hours will now pay £15. This brings the all-day rate in line with local Headington car parks to prevent misuse of hospital facilities.

Concessionary arrangements for patients and visitors who regularly attend the hospitals remain in place, and will not change. Free parking for Blue Badge holders is also unchanged, with 253 spaces for Blue Badge holders across the four hospitals.

All money generated from the Trust's parking charges is reinvested in patient and visitor services.

Jason Dorsett, Chief Finance Officer at Oxford University Hospitals, said: "We have looked at all the data to ensure that the majority of people who attend our hospitals will not be charged any more, and, in fact, most will be charged slightly less.

"With the average length of stay at our hospitals being less than three hours, we will be reducing charges for people parking for 1-3 hours, and increasing the charges for those who stay longer. This aims to prevent our car parks being used by people not attending the hospitals, in turn potentially freeing up spaces for those who genuinely need them. Our concessionary arrangements remain unchanged and are there to support patients and visitors in exceptional circumstances.

"The Trust actively encourages patients and visitors to consider other methods of transport such as public transport if possible and appropriate, and there is information on these alternatives in our appointment letters and on our website."