Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Health Secretary, today announced at the Labour Party's Annual Conference that Labour will cancel car parking charges at NHS hospitals.

Andy Burnham said:

"When people are coming in to hospital, the last thing they want to worry about is keeping the car parking ticket up-to-date. But, for families of the sickest patients, the costs can really rack up.

"It's not right if some people don't get visitors every day because families can't afford the parking fees. And yet we all know that having friends and family around helps patients get better more quickly.  

"I am clear we will make year-on-year savings from back-office costs and I want to see some of those benefits coming back directly to patients and their families.  

"Conference , we can't do it overnight. But, over the next three years, as we can afford it, I want to phase out car parking charges for in-patients, giving each a permit for the length of their stay which family and friends can use."