The changes will affect thousands of patients and visitors who rely on car parking at the hospital.
By the numbers:
1 hour parking rises from £2.20 to £3
2 hours increases from £3.30 to £4
4 hours goes up from £4.50 to £5
5 hours rises from £5.50 to £7
8 hours increases from £6.50 to £10
Weekly tickets jump from £14 to £20
Free parking remains for:
Disabled drivers
Cancer and radiotherapy patients
Frequent outpatients (3+ visits monthly for 3+ months)
Parents of children staying overnight
30-minute drop-offs and pick-ups
The bigger picture: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) says the increases will help fund more parking spaces and maintain existing facilities.
Recent building work has reduced available parking spaces, and Nick Hulme, ESNEFT Chief Executive, points to these recent investments as the reason for price increases: “Our multi-million-pound investment programme, including the Dame Clare Marx Building in Colchester and our new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre in Ipswich, will significantly improve healthcare for local people.
“However, we know that the number of car parking spaces on each hospital site has reduced because of these and other new buildings, causing anxiety and upset due to the time it can take to find a parking space."
A push for alternative transport: New travel options leaflets are being sent with appointment letters as the trust tries to encourage alternatives to driving:
Park and ride services are being promoted
Work is underway with First Bus to launch discounted travel for Ipswich patients
What they're saying: "We need to make some changes and provide our communities with a stress-free experience," says Nick Hulme, ESNEFT Chief Executive. He acknowledges that "at peak times it is unlikely that you will find a parking space."
What's next: The changes take effect from Monday, 11 November 2024.
The bottom line: While the trust says the new charges are in line with other hospitals in the east of England, they represent significant increases for regular hospital visitors during a period of wider cost-of-living pressures.
