A young woman is leading a campaign for reduced parking fees at Stoke-on-Trent’s primary hospital after spending £16.80 on parking during visits to her father, who suffered a stroke. Courtney Chell visited her father, Edward, four times over his four-day stay at Royal Stoke University Hospital, paying £4.20 each time for parking for two to three hours.

Courtney’s online petition calling for lower parking charges has already attracted hundreds of signatures. She expressed her frustration, saying: “£4.20 for up to three hours is excessively high. It was upsetting to see how much it costs. For people in difficult financial situations, high parking fees can discourage them from visiting family.”

She added, “When you arrive at the car park, you’re already stressed, and then you worry about how much you have to spend just to see your loved one in hospital. It’s cheaper to park in Hanley. Paying to park at a hospital shouldn’t feel like a luxury—it’s an essential service.”

Edward, 74, has since been discharged and is recovering at home, while his wife Tracy had been visiting him twice daily. Courtney highlighted their dissatisfaction, saying: “The current parking charges suggest that only those who are financially well-off can afford to visit loved ones without added stress. Those struggling financially face additional pressure at an already challenging time.”

“There are people who can’t afford to visit due to the cost,” she added. APCOA, which manages the Royal Stoke car park, declined to comment, according to StokeonTrentLive.

A spokesperson from Royal Stoke commented: “We recognise that the cost of living is currently a significant challenge. However, our parking tariffs are designed to ensure that the cost of maintaining this essential service does not affect the funds allocated for patient care.

Any surplus revenue generated from parking charges is reinvested directly into patient care. Additionally, there are several categories of patients and visitors who are exempt from parking fees. These include those accessing specialist services, individuals receiving daily treatment over extended periods, visitors of long-term patients, and holders of disabled blue badges.”