NEW data released by the NHS has revealed how much income Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust has made from parking charges in the past year.

Hospital patients and visitors forked out almost £146m for car parking nationally last year – up by 50% from the previous year, figures show.

The Liberal Democrats, who uncovered the data, branded it a “tax on caring” and criticised the Tory Government for “failing to deliver” on a manifesto pledge to end unfair hospital car parking charges.

NHS England’s 2022/23 estates return information collection shows trusts’ gross income from patients’ and visitors’ parking was £145.8m.

Liverpool University Hospitals raked in £1.6m in parking fees in 2021/22 and came in first place across the country.

For comparison, the trust – which charges patients and visitors £3 for an hour of parking – made just £26,549 the year before.

What were the figures for Wirral?

For Wirral, Wirral University Teaching Hospital had a 2022/2023 parking revenue (patients and visitors) of £406,597.

Surprisingly, this is less than the 2021/2022 parking revenue (patients and visitors) which came in at £410,724.

A Wirral University Teaching Hospital spokesperson said: "Our parking charges are in line with those of hospitals across the region.

"Changes introduced this year have resulted in lower charges for patients and visitors who have a longer stay of between four and 12 hours.

"We also introduced a free 30-minute initial free parking period for patients and visitors at our Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospital sites."