Press release – issued 8 July 2026
2026/009
Hereford County Hospital parking charges to increase from 16 July following a ten-year freeze
Hereford County Hospital parking charges are set to increase from 16 July this year to reflect the accumulated rise in operating costs and inflation following a ten-year freeze.
Wye Valley NHS Trust Trust’s PFI partner, Mercia Healthcare, manage and set the parking charges, which have remained unchanged for ten years whilst inflation and operating costs have risen, even though the company is contractually entitled to increase its charges within this period.
This latest increase will be held for the next three years and reviewed by Wye Valley NHS Trust when the PFI contract ceases in 2029.
Alan Dawson, chief planning and strategy officer at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said: “We understand this price increase is going to be difficult for patients and visitors. However, our PFI partner had put a freeze on previous scheduled car parking charge increases for the last ten years and this is no longer a viable option.
“We will look to review the parking provision at this site as part of the preparation for the 30-year PFI contract coming to an end in 2029. In the meantime, there will not be any further parking charge increases.
“There are a range of car parking concessions available to patients/visitors, and we would encourage people to review these ahead of their appointment/visit to this site.”
Parking charges cover the cost of maintaining and securing the hospital’s on-site car parks, as a managed service.
Parking concessions:
Broadly these concessions cover a variety of situations. Further details of these can be found on the Trust’s website - www.wyevalley.nhs.uk (search parking concessions).
- When there have been delays to treatment at the hospital
- When carers/parents of children have to stay at the hospital overnight
- Carers in active care of patients on wards
- When multiple outpatient visits to the hospital within one month
- For patients and escorts using the hospital travel cost scheme
- For patients in receipt of approved benefits
- Disabled people with a blue badge
Ends
Notes to Editors WVT:
- Wye Valley NHS Trust is a provider of health services across Herefordshire and beyond. The Trust exists to improve the wellbeing, independence and health of the people we serve.
- By working closely with our partners, we can make good our promise to deliver a quality of care we would want for ourselves, our families and our friends.
- With an estimated annual turnover of around £400 million, we employ around 4,000 staff. We aim to build new relationships between our staff, patients, service users and their carers with the wider community.
For further information please contact:
Fiona Gurney, communications officer, or John Burnett, Communication and Engagement Manager, Wye Valley NHS Trust: 01432 372928