Blue badge holders will be able to park for free at Southport and Ormskirk hospitals from 1 December 2020 when parking charges come back into force.

Fees were suspended for all visitors at the height of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in March.

Blue badge holders make a one-off validation of their badge to receive free parking. Only when the badge is renewed will it need to be validated again. Details of how to do this are on the parking page of this website.

Parking continues to be free for:

• Relatives of patients at the end of life
• Cancer patients
• Parents of neonatal babies
• Parents of children staying overnight

Patients and visitors should speak to the relevant ward or department for further information.

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has invested over the summer installing an automatic number plate recognition car parking system to make visiting our hospitals easy and hassle-free with payment at the machine by card or cash.

A contactless card can also be used at the barrier to pay and the pre-pay the Glide smartphone app is available to download.

The system works using closed-circuit TV which registers each vehicle as they enter the car park. To leave the driver must enter their vehicle registration number into the parking payment machine. It will calculate the fee and, once paid, will raise the exit barrier as the driver’s car approaches.

Chris Davies, Associate Director for Estates and Facilities, said: “Because this system uses number plate recognition technology, it means no lost or damaged tickets with the delays and frustration that can cause.”

Hospital parking fees remain unchanged. Staff continue to park for free for the time being.