Pregnant patients at four Essex hospitals are facing increased parking costs of around 50% due to a hike in charges by the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSENFT). From July 31, hourly parking charges will increase, with three hours costing £6 instead of £4. Patients and visitors who qualify for exemptions, such as those receiving chemotherapy or blue badge holders, may still be eligible for free parking. Antenatal expert Priyanka Salamonczyk notes that the additional stress caused by parking challenges can have a significant impact on vulnerable patients, particularly those with high-risk pregnancies.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Pregnant patients at several hospitals in Essex are facing additional stress due to a recent hike in parking costs, with some facing increased fees of up to £45. The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSENFT), which runs four hospitals, including Basildon University Hospital and Broomfield Hospital, raised parking charges by about 50% on Friday, reducing free parking from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. A pregnant woman who attended appointments at Broomfield Hospital, Priyanka Salamonczyk, reported spending £97.10 in parking fees during her high-risk pregnancy, which would now cost her £142.50. The trust claims that its operational costs are increasing and some visitors, such as chemotherapy patients, will still be eligible for free parking. The increased parking charges are set to take effect on July 31, with hourly rates rising from £4 to £6 and daily rates growing from £10 to £18.
Written for “Hospital Parking Fees” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article frames the hospital's decision to increase parking costs as placing additional stress on pregnant patients, with quotes from experts and patients emphasizing the negative impact. The tone is sympathetic towards the patients' concerns and critical of the hospital's decision.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score -0.30 for article 165 · logged 2026-07-31
- Published
A hike in parking costs at several hospitals will cause "additional stress" for pregnant patients, an antenatal expert said.
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expert → publish → patients
On Friday the cost to park at Basildon University Hospital, Broomfield Hospital, Southend University Hospital and Orsett Hospital increased by about 50% and free parking at the sites reduced from 30 to 20 minutes.
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parking → park → minutes
Priyanka Salamonczyk said she spent £97.10 parking at Broomfield Hospital to attend appointments when she was pregnant, which would now cost £142.50.
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which → say → 142.50
The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSENFT) said its operational costs were increasing and some visitors would still be eligible for free parking, such as chemotherapy patients and blue badge holders.
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visitors → say → patients
She had a high-risk pregnancy and hospital appointments "every other day" in the final few weeks, she added.
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she → have → weeks
From 31 July hourly parking charges will increase, such as the cost of three hours of parking will rise from £4 to £6 and the daily rate will grow from £10 to £18.
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rate → increase → 18
The 34-year-old is the founder of the Unbiased Birth Club and runs antenatal classes in Chelmsford.
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old → run → Chelmsford
She said pregnancy was "stressful" without parking challenges and her clients were "already really vulnerable".
"Now, on top of that, you now have to pay even more - if you're lucky enough to find a spot - and it's just an additional stress when you're already really stressed," she said.
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she → say → spot
Salamonczyk added that Broomfield Hospital parking was already "cramped" and that even the 30-minute free parking was a "rush".
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parking → add → ?
Public transport was a "great option" for some, she added, but not always viable for someone who was "exhausted" and "heavily pregnant".
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who → add → someone
Rosalind Wright has had two children at Broomfield Hospital and said parking was already a "nightmare" without the cost increase.
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parking → have → increase
She estimated she had about 10 appointments for scans, vaccinations and blood tests, and spent between £50 to £100 to park the car.
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she → estimate → car
The 39-year-old described the 20 minutes of free parking "pointless".
"
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old → describe → parking
I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody that ever got in and out of Broomfield Hospital in 30 minutes, so it always seems like a bit of a pointless kind of advertisement," she said.
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she → think → advertisement
I typically would pay three hours for what would probably be a five-minute appointment," she said.
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she → pay → hours
Some people living nearby the hospitals rent out their driveways to visitors.
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people → live → visitors
JustPark is one platform that provides this service and it told the BBC that 35 spaces were listed within 2km (1.24 miles) of Broomfield Hospital, including six within 500m.
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spaces → provide → 500
The spaces cost a daily rate of £6.15 on average, compared with £4.52 average daily rate to park elsewhere in Chelmsford.
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spaces → cost → Chelmsford
Natasha Kerrigan, the chief estates and infrastructure officer for the MSENFT, said it was the first increase in three years and some visitors would not have to pay for parking.
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visitors → say → parking
She added patients and visitors could also apply for a weekly parking concession ticket.
"[Including] patients receiving chemotherapy, people visiting patients at the end of their life, birthing partners, carers supporting patients with dementia and disabled parking for Blue Badge holders.
"We recognise that any increase in charges is unwelcome, but the costs associated with operating and maintaining our car parks have increased," she said.
uncertain
she → add → parks
Do you have a story suggestion for Essex?
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you → have → Essex
