Trafford hospital scraps parking charges
A Greater Manchester hospital claims it is the first in England to scrap car-parking changes for patients and visitors.
Trafford General Hospital said it was responding to criticism from users, who said paying was an "unnecessary stress, expense and hassle".
The decision will cost £280,000 a year in revenue, which the hospital says it will make up in efficiency savings.
Staff will continue to pay, but all visitors will receive free exit passes.
The new regime will be introduced in the summer after improvement work and the installation of new barriers to the car parks.
Ron Calvert, chief executive of Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "We listen carefully to patients and their visitors and it is clear they find paying for hospital parking an unnecessary stress, expense and hassle.
"We are making Trafford General the first acute hospital to offer free parking to patients and visitors and we believe we are leading the way in putting patients' needs first."
Parking is free at hospitals in Scotland and Wales and at some non-acute outpatient or community hospitals in England.