BLUE badge holders and patients with long-term conditions can park for free at Mid Cheshire Hospitals sites from Saturday

Parents of sick children staying overnight at Leighton Hospital will also be entitled to free parking as part of the new concessions.

Parking charges for all other patients and visitors to Leighton Hospital and Victoria Infirmary will be reinstated on August 1, following a temporary suspension during the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff were able to park for free in patient car parks closer to the buildings and will still be exempt from parking charges.

A trust spokesman said: “As we are now working to restore our normal services, we are reinstating designated patient car parks and associated charges.

“Tariffs for car parking, which have not changed since 2008, are set to ensure the cost of maintaining and improving parking and security do not impact on finances allocated for patient care.

“Blue badge holders and patients who regularly attend appointments for long term conditions will be allowed to park for free at Mid Cheshire Hospitals sites from Saturday August 1 under new long term concessions introduced by the trust.

“Parents of sick children staying overnight at Leighton Hospital will also be entitled to free parking.

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“Signage located across the trust will provide information to patients and visitors on the process to obtain the new concessions where they are eligible.”

Which? magazine previously named Mid Cheshire Hospitals as being in the top six in the country for parking as it offers many other concessions.

Free parking is available for renal patients, cancer patients receiving treatment, visitors of patients on the palliative care pathway, research patients, volunteers and trust members also receive free parking for related events.