THOUSANDS more NHS patients will have access to free hospital parking, but the news has raised concerns about how this will work.

From April, all 206 hospital trusts in England will have to offer free parking to certain groups, as part of the governments manifesto promise.

People eligible for free parking include blue badge holders, patients who attend regular appointments to manage long-term conditions and, at specific times, parents of sick children and staff working night shifts.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “This is yet another example of how this government is delivering on our promises and focusing on the people’s priorities.”

The news has been met with some concerns, however.

Lucy Watson, chair of the Patients Association, said: “Free hospital car parking for some will be welcomed by those groups who will benefit from it.

“They will face a reduced cost burden, and not have to worry about whether their car parking is running out when appointments overrun and so on.

“However, we are concerned about how this complex measure will work in practice. How will people know their entitlement, how will they access it, and will patients and their families face another bureaucratic process to navigate at an already distressing time?

“We are ultimately disappointed that the government has not provided free hospital parking for all patients, as part of a full funding settlement for the NHS. We urge the Government to commit to funding the NHS fully, including money for abolishing car parking charges entirely.”

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals made £1.3million in 2018 to 2019, and the Conservative Party said £78million would be provided to NHS trusts to help compensate for lost fees after the changes.

A spokesperson for RBCH said: “Details behind this and the timescale have not yet been stipulated by the government. Until this is known any impact on income cannot be calculated.”