From Monday 11 November changes to parking charges at Southport and Ormskirk hospitals came into force.

Parking is limited at both hospitals. Please use alternative methods of transport where possible. We have added extra spaces at Southport hospital but the car park remains very busy at peak periods. Please allow time to park when coming for your appointment.
Please note parking charges rise at both our hospitals from 11 November 2019.

Take a ticket when you arrive

You will be issued with a ticket on entering a car park which should be used to pay when you are ready to leave. Payments machines are available near the reception of both hospitals; opposite the duck pond car park, in the Spinal Unit and at the back of Southport hospital; and in the car park next to Wigan Road at Ormskirk hospital.

The ticket payment machines are cash only. However, there are change machines at the main entrances to both hospitals which take bank cards.

No payment is due for entering a barriered area for less than 20 minutes. Simply insert your ticket into the machine at the exit barrier and leave.

At Southport car parks are situated along a one-way system around the main hospital building. At Ormskirk hospital there are two main car parks: one opposite the main hospital building and a second next to Wigan Road accessed using the road to Children’s A&E.

Patient transport. At Southport, the patient transport reception centre is open from 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday). It faces the public telephones at reception. At Ormskirk, transport will be booked by staff at your clinic. If you need further help, either ask at the clinic or call extension 4311 from the main hospital reception.
Wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are available in the hospital. You may, however, find it more convenient to bring your own.

Blue badge parking

There is paid car parking available at both our hospital sites with Blue Badge holder spaces near the main entrances. You must display your badge.

Scale of charges

0 to 20 minutes	Free
20 minutes to 1 hour	£3
1 to 2 hours	£3.50
2 to 3 hours	£4
3 to 4 hours	£4.50
4 to 6 hours	£5.50
More than 6 hours	£6.50

Discounts for frequent visitors

We offer passes to frequent visitors which give unlimited visits and may be renewed as many times as needed. They are:

• A £20 for a seven-day pass
• A £50 for a three-month pass

A refundable £10 deposit is required for each. Apply at the General Office at either site on Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm or out of hours via the vending machines for weekly passes on each site.

Help with your travel costs

You can claim help with travel costs to hospital if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• You receive Universal Credit and meet the criteria

To make a claim for parking, you must fill in a patient claim form available from the clinic where you attended your appointment. Please take this form, plus proof of your benefit to the general/cash office.

Claims should be made at the General Office. If it is closed, post your claim with a copy of the proof of benefit to Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, Finance dept, PO Box 134, Southport PR8 6PN. Alternatively retain your claim for payment at your next appointment.

You can also claim for help with travel costs if:

• You are named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you don’t have a certificate, you can show your award notice) – you qualify if you get child tax credits, working tax credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• You have a low income and are named on certificate HC2 (full help) or HC3 (limited help) – to apply for this certificate, you should complete form HC1, which is available from your local hospital, Jobcentre Plus offices, or the NHS print contract order line on 0300 123 0849

There is more information about help with health costs on the NHS website

Parking enforcement

UK Parking Control Ltd (UKPC) patrols our car parks to prevent thoughtless and dangerous parking. The company issues fixed penalty notices to drivers who, for example, park in Blue Badge spaces they are not entitled to, park on pavements and double yellow lines, or block access to essential clinical services and emergency services such as ambulances and fire engines.

All the income received from parking is used to improve a range of patient services provided by the Trust.

The Trust makes no money from penalty notice income which instead funds UKPC’s management costs.

I have been issued with a penalty notice. What should I do?

The Trust is unable to resolve appeals against fixed penalty notices. All information about appeals can be found on UK Parking Control penalty notice. In certain circumstance UKPC may contact the Trust for information before deciding whether or not to uphold the appeal.
Further information about what to do if you appeal has been unsuccessful can be found at Popla, the Parking of Private Land Appeals service.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

From Monday 11 November 2019 there are changes to parking charges at Southport and Ormskirk hospitals.


Parking is limited at both hospitals. Please use alternative methods of transport where possible. We have added extra spaces at Southport hospital but the car park remains very busy at peak periods. Please allow time to park when coming for your appointment.
Please note parking charges rise at both our hospitals from 11 November 2019.


Take a ticket when you arrive


You will be issued with a ticket on entering a car park which should be used to pay when you are ready to leave.
Payments machines are available near the reception of both hospitals; opposite the duck pond car park, in the Spinal Unit and at the back of Southport hospital; and in the car park next to Wigan Road at Ormskirk hospital.
The ticket payment machines are cash only. However, there are change machines at the main entrances to both hospitals which take bank cards.
No payment is due for entering a barriered area for less than 20 minutes. Simply insert your ticket into the machine at the exit barrier and leave.
At Southport car parks are situated along a one-way system around the main hospital building. At Ormskirk hospital there are two main car parks: one opposite the main hospital building and a second next to Wigan Road accessed using the road to Children’s A&E.
Patient transport. At Southport, the patient transport reception centre is open from 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday). It faces the public telephones at reception. At Ormskirk, transport will be booked by staff at your clinic. If you need further help, either ask at the clinic or call extension 4311 from the main hospital reception.
Wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are available in the hospital. You may, however, find it more convenient to bring your own.


Blue badge parking


There is paid car parking available at both our hospital sites with Blue Badge holder spaces near the main entrances. You must display your badge.


Scale of charges

0 to 20 minutes	Free
20 minutes to 1 hour	£3
1 to 2 hours	£3.50
2 to 3 hours	£4
3 to 4 hours	£4.50
4 to 6 hours	£5.50
More than 6 hours	£6.50

Discounts for frequent visitors


We offer passes to frequent visitors which give unlimited visits and may be renewed as many times as needed. They are:

• A £20 for a seven-day pass
• A £50 for a three-month pass

A refundable £10 deposit is required for each. Apply at the General Office at either site on Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm or out of hours via the vending machines for weekly passes on each site.


Help with your travel costs


You can claim help with travel costs to hospital if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• You receive Universal Credit and meet the criteria

To make a claim for parking, you must fill in a patient claim form available from the clinic where you attended your appointment. Please take this form, plus proof of your benefit to the general/cash office.
Claims should be made at the General Office. If it is closed, post your claim with a copy of the proof of benefit to Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, Finance dept, PO Box 134, Southport PR8 6PN. Alternatively retain your claim for payment at your next appointment.
You can also claim for help with travel costs if:

• You are named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you don’t have a certificate, you can show your award notice) – you qualify if you get child tax credits, working tax credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• You have a low income and are named on certificate HC2 (full help) or HC3 (limited help) – to apply for this certificate, you should complete form HC1, which is available from your local hospital, Jobcentre Plus offices, or the NHS print contract order line on 0300 123 0849

There is more information about help with health costs on the NHS website


Parking enforcement


UK Parking Control Ltd (UKPC) patrols our car parks to prevent thoughtless and dangerous parking. The company issues fixed penalty notices to drivers who, for example, park in Blue Badge spaces they are not entitled to, park on pavements and double yellow lines, or block access to essential clinical services and emergency services such as ambulances and fire engines.
All the income received from parking is used to improve a range of patient services provided by the Trust.
The Trust makes no money from penalty notice income which instead funds UKPC’s management costs.


I have been issued with a penalty notice. What should I do?


The Trust is unable to resolve appeals against fixed penalty notices. All information about appeals can be found on UK Parking Control penalty notice. In certain circumstance UKPC may contact the Trust for information before deciding whether or not to uphold the appeal.
Further information about what to do if you appeal has been unsuccessful can be found at Popla, the Parking of Private Land Appeals service.

i wouldnt worry about the car parking charges...be more worried that you are visiting a family member that goes in for a minor problem but only exits the hospital in a coffin....anybody else had a family member go for a couple of days treatment then exits to the undertakers...iv tried to get legal action after been lied to many times by doctors..the local solicitors dont want to act at the moment but enough people get together they cant ignore it

Absolutely disgraceful, it really is time to act like the French, and start making our voices heard.

A disgrace. They can manage free parking in Scotland and Wales, why not here

Charging for parking at the Hospital is a disgusting way to make money! People do not CHOOSE to come to a hospital, and the reason why they are there is distressing enough without having to be ripped off at the car park!

Are staff allowed free parking? They should be. What if they have to attend in an emergency - 'Oh hang on for resuscitation, I have to get my parking ticket out' The idea is completely wrong!

Why was there housing allowed in that area when it was known that there was insufficient space for parking? Houses can be built in many places but car parking for the hospital cannot be put anywhere!

The hospital now serves a very wide area - few people live close enough to walk to it, and buses do not serve every area. Other hospitals run free parking areas - why not Southport?

When they make these barriers I think they are obligated to make them safe so they won’t come down while the eye on them can see that there is anything under them, so they won’t come down on a person or car. Most car parks like this have a little bump to go over just before the barrier so cars have to navigate this while the barrier closes from the car in front.
So if you let’s say got too close to the car in front and rolled over the bump while the car in front was going under the barrier the eye would see you and think you were a trailer or obstacle and not come down on you, in fact it would go up again.

I had a short stay in Southport hospital a few months ago, the treatment I received was second to none, the food was good and all staff were fantastic, I appeared there in my car and parked it for a few days at the far end of the car park and was assured by staff that it was ok and as I was staying they would let me out free ( one way or another ).
It turned out that I was to be transferred to broad green and I organised a driver to take my car home for me. The driver appeared and I went to the car parking office with my driver and explained the situation and that I wanted my car out, the car park chap said I must pay the full daily rate (£5 odd ), I said that won’t do while my driver was fumbling in her purse for change saying I’ve got it here, I told her no you haven’t we will walk to AE where I was told there would be no charge as I was staying in and we started to walk off. By now the chap could see that we were not falling for the day charge and about to get others involved and quick as a flash he produced a ticket out of his pocket and said this will get you out, I told my driver that I had worked at the fairground too long to fall for his nonesense fiddle and we tried the ticket in the machine and it didn’t work, so I folded it up and stuffed it up the machine slot and rolled out behind another car safe in the knowledge that the barrier won’t come down while there is something under it, its probably a health and safety thing, imagine how many cars would have dints on top of them if these barriers did not have this feature.

Originally Posted by justbecause

Absolutely disgraceful, it really is time to act like the French, and start making our voices heard.

So what's changed in France then?