An NHS trust has been accused of cruelly 'taxing the sick' after raking in a record £9.2million in parking charges last year.

The sum pocketed by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is the highest amount ever recorded by a trust in a single year.

Nationally, the NHS made £173.1million by levying fees on patients and visitors in 2023/24 and a further £69.8million on staff.

The total figure of £242.9million is equivalent to £4.67million a week or £27,800 every hour.

Patient groups say the cost can be crippling for those who need to make frequent visits to hospital and can deter friends and family from visiting.

Staff also highlight the often remote locations of hospitals, with poor public transport links and unsociable working hours, which may make a car essential.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has earned more from parking than any other trust in each of the previous five years.

In total, it made £31.3million over this period and £43million over seven years, according to new figures published by NHS England.

Nationally, trusts have raised £880million over the past five years and £1.4billion over the past seven.

NHS staff benefited from free parking during the pandemic but some trusts have since reintroduced charges.

Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Parking charges at hospitals are the last thing patients, relatives and carers need.

'They hit vulnerable patients the hardest, especially those with chronic conditions who need to go to the hospital regularly.

'The government should put an end to this tax on the sick.'

Beth McCleverty, policy, research and campaigns manager at baby care charity Bliss, said: 'Parking costs can place a significant burden on new parents if their baby is born premature or sick and requires neonatal care.

'A neonatal stay can range from days to weeks or months in hospital soon after birth, and that means that the cost of parking, and other essentials like food and drink, childcare and accommodation, can really add up for families at a time when they are already under a high level of stress.

'One in seven babies receives care on a neonatal unit after birth, and at such a critical moment for bonding between parents and their vulnerable newborn it is unacceptable that parents are being charged to be with their baby.

'Parents with babies receiving neonatal care are not visitors but are essential partners in their baby's care.

'Hospital trusts must urgently reassess the impact of parking costs on this already vulnerable group.'

The Conservative's 2019 manifesto pledged to 'end unfair hospital car parking charges by making parking free for those in greatest need, including disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts'.

Current guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care says parking charges should be 'reasonable for the area'.

Trusts should provide free parking for disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts.

Helen Morgan [must keep], health and social care spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said: 'These fees have become a tax on caring for those needing treatment, their loved ones and hard-working staff having to pay to go to work.

'The previous Conservative government did not deliver on their promises to end unfair hospital parking fees and their legacy of failure has left people literally paying the price.

'The new government must crackdown on these unfair fees immediately.'

NHS England said parking charges are a way for trusts to manage capacity in their car parks for patients and staff.

The income is used to pay for the cost of running the car park, such as security and maintenance, with any surplus income re-invested in NHS services. 

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Hospital car park charges are the responsibility of individual NHS trusts.

'Free parking is available for all NHS staff who work overnight and any charges must be reasonable and in line with the local area.

'Any revenue is used to maintain car park facilities and surplus income is put back into the NHS.’