Patient and Visitor information on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) across OUH

At the end of 2025, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) introduced Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) across staff and visitor car parks at three of its main hospital sites: the John Radcliffe, Churchill Hospital in Oxford, and Horton General Hospital in Banbury. The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre already had operational ANPR.

ANPR improves access, reduces misuse, and supports smoother traffic flow across hospital sites. It also helps ensure patients and visitors only pay for the time they stay, supporting a fairer and more straightforward parking experience.

The introduction of ANPR is part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to improving patient and visitor experience.

Lisa Hofen, Chief Estates and Facilities Officer at OUH, said: "ANPR helps us manage parking more fairly and efficiently across our sites, while making the experience simpler for patients and visitors. By removing barriers and tickets, and allowing people to pay only for the time they stay, we hope to reduce stress and improve journeys to and from our hospitals."

How the ANPR system works
ANPR is a camera‑based system that automatically records vehicle registration number (VRN)/ vehicle number plate when vehicles enter and leave hospital sites. There are no barriers and no tickets to display.

All OUH sites operate payment on departure, with the first 30 minutes on site free. Patients and visitors must park in designated patient and visitor car parks. Vehicles parked in staff car parks or other restricted areas may receive a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).

Paying for parking
At the John Radcliffe, Churchill Hospital, and Horton General Hospital, visitors can pay at on‑site machines using card or contactless payment, or via the Evology app. Visitors on these three sites can also pay through the app within 48 hours of arriving.

At the NOC, where ANPR is managed by a different provider, visitors must pay on‑site before leaving at machines by card/contactless or on the JustPark app.

Visitors are reminded to enter their VRN carefully when paying, as mistyping is a common cause of issues. This includes checking similar characters such as ‘O’ and ‘0’, or ‘1’ and ‘l’.

If someone has accidentally overpaid, they can email their VRN and receipt/transaction details to anpr.parking@oxnet.nhs.uk. 

Blue Badge parking
Parking is free for Blue Badge holders, including both staff and visitors. Blue Badge holders must register their vehicle against their Blue Badge and continue to display the badge clearly in the vehicle windscreen.

At the John Radcliffe, Churchill Hospital, and Horton General Hospital, registering a Blue Badge covers all three sites for six months. Registration can be completed at car park payment machines on exit. It is essential that the Blue Badge barcode is scanned to complete registration.

If a visitor arrives in a different vehicle, that vehicle will need to be registered against the Blue Badge. Re‑registering during the six‑month period will restart the six‑month registration window.

At the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, visitors should either bring a copy or photo of their Blue Badge or provide the badge number to reception so parking can be registered.

Alternatively, Blue Badge and VRN details can be emailed to anpr.parking@oxnet.nhs.uk. The same email address should be used if a barcode fails to scan or your Blue Badge was issued outside of the UK.

Further information
There is signage around our sites to guide the patients and visitors regarding parking on our sites. Information cards are available at hospital receptions, and parking guidance is displayed on patient waiting room screens. Volunteers and reception staff are also available to help patients and visitors who are unsure.

More information for each hospital is available on the Trust website for the John Radcliffe, Churchill, Horton and the NOC. You can also watch our ANPR information video for patients and visitors, and ANPR information video for Blue Badge holders for parking at the JR, Churchill and Horton that have plenty of helpful information.