The majority of NHS staff at Leighton Hospital will no longer be able to park for free - starting from this Friday (April 1).

Parking fees were waived during the Covid-19 pandemic, but this benefit is now coming to an end - confirmed Health Secretary Sajid Javid in a coronavirus written statement.

The free car parking ends for NHS staff on the same day that free Covid tests end for the general population.

In case you missed it: Free Covid-19 testing to end in Crewe this Friday.

Sajid Javid said: "Free car parking in hospital car parks for NHS staff introduced during the pandemic will also come to and end on March 31.

"However, over 93% of NHS trusts that charge for car parking have implemented free parking for those in greatest need - including NHS staff working overnight."

He concluded: "On behalf of the Government, I would like to record my thanks to everyone who has worked tirelessly to keep people safe over the last two years and whose efforts have enabled us to move to the next stage of the Covid-19 response."

NHS England Estates data shows that for 2019/20, gross income generated from car parking "contributed to costs" of around £90.1 million for staff.

The news comes as a blow for the majority of NHS staff, although there are some exceptions.

The UK Government has confirmed four groups that will continue to get free NHS parking:

- A disabled person that is a holder of a valid Blue Badge and is attending hospital as a patient or a visitor or is a disabled person employed by the hospital trust.

Disabled patients and visitors will receive free parking for the duration of their attendance at, or visit to, the hospital. Disabled employees will receive free parking while at the hospital for purposes relating to their employment.

- Frequent outpatient attenders

Parking will be provided free to all outpatients who attend hospital for an appointment at least three times within a month and for an overall period of at least three months. A 'month' is defined by the Government as a period of 30 days.

- Parents of sick children staying overnight

Free car parking will be given to the parent of a child in hospital overnight. This is a parent or guardian of a child or young person, under 18 years of age, who is admitted as an inpatient at hospital overnight.

They will receive free parking between the hours of 7.30pm and 8.00am while visiting the child. This would apply to a maximum of two vehicles.

- Staff working night shifts

Staff working night shifts are members of staff with a shift starting after 7.30pm and ending before 8.00am. They will receive free parking for the duration of their shift.

The groups mentioned have had mandatory free parking since January 2021.

For more information visit the Government website here.

[I] Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Crewe Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

Please consider following Crewe Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.