Sick tax

Sick tax

NHS hospitals raked in more than £110 million in car parking charges last year, research by the Liberal Democrats revealed.

The figures, disclosed in a Freedom of Information request, showed visitors were hit with £84 million in parking fees while NHS staff were charged £28 million.

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge made the most out of any hospital, taking £2.8 million in parking charges.

Peter Wilcock, Liberal Democrat candidate for Saffron Walden, Cambs, said the parking charges were "effectively a tax on the sick".

Hospitals make millions in parking (Press Association, 25 September 2009)