Free car parking for patients

You can park for free at our hospitals if you receive any of the following. This applies to disabled and able bodied patients and where considered medically necessary, their escort:

• Income support
• Income based Job Seekers allowance
• Working Tax Credit (and have been issued with a Tax Credit exemption certificate and card)
• Income based Employment and Support allowance
• Guaranteed Pension Credit (no savings)

How to claim

Three simple steps to claim back you car parking charge:

1. Press the receipt button on the car parking pay machine when you insert your ticket and pay.
2. Take your receipt plus your appointment letter and proof of benefit to the general office located in the Hospital's main entrance.
3. We will refund your charge there and then.

Others who can receive free parking

From July 1, 2011 you can also park for free if you are:

• An oncology (cancer) patient attending for outpatient intravenous chemotherapy / radiotherapy treatment
• Renal dialysis patients
• Parents of sick children (who stay in hospital overnight to accompany their sick children)
• Collecting paperwork in relation to bereavement

Simply contact the Ward or Department which is caring for you and ask for the Sister or Ward Manager who will be able to confirm your eligibility and give you a form to take to the Security Office in the main entrance of the University Hospital.

Car parking charges

Car park charges apply at both University Hospital, Coventry and Hospital of St Cross, Rugby. View details of our car park charges.

If you travel by Bus

If you travel by bus and receive any of the benefits listed above, you can also claim back your bus fare by simply taking your bus ticket, proof of appointment, and proof of benefit to the General Office in the Hospital's main entrance.

Patients who don't automatically qualify for the NHS Hospital Travel cost scheme outlined above, but still find it hard to afford travel and parking costs, may be entitled to claim back some, or all, of their travel expenses under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

You can claim if you are on a low income and:

• you are in residential care and have capital of £20,000 or less.
• you are over 60 and have capital of £12,000 or less.
• you don't fall into either of the above categories but have capital of £8,000 or less.

(Capital is any money you may hold in savings and investments, but doesn't include your home.)

For more information about financial support for travel costs download our information leaflet.