Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karin Smyth and Josh Babarinde

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Josh Babarinde (Eastbourne) (LD)]

10. What steps his Department is taking to improve car parking provision at NHS hospitals.

[The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)]

The Department has published guidance that trusts are expected to follow to manage the provision of car-parking spaces for patients, hospital users and staff. Responsibility for hospital car parks lies with each individual trust, and provision must be managed alongside the existing policy, providing free parking for those in the greatest need.

[Josh Babarinde]

Parking at Eastbourne district general hospital, where I was born, is woefully inadequate. The car park is often full, so patients have to park way away up the Rodmill hill, and car park services are crumbling. More than that, lower-banded NHS staff now face a near doubling of car parking charges to cover the cost. Given that the Government have delayed investment in our new hospital and, therefore, in a new car park until the 2040s, what support will they provide in the meantime to upgrade our DGH car parking facilities without our NHS heroes being expected to foot the bill?

[Karin Smyth]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the discussions about any advanced works arising from the new hospital programme are ongoing. I am very happy for the Department to continue to discuss with the trust how future investment can best meet the needs of the future.