Paying for parking
An automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system is in place at Colchester Hospital, meaning you only pay for the time you are here.
You can use your bank card or mobile phone, as well as cash, to pay for your stay.
We have also introduced a 10 minute free period at the drop off point outside the hospital’s main entrance and a 30 minute free period in the main car park, meaning you will not be charged for dropping off or picking someone up from our site.
Colchester Hospital Parking Accessibility information from AccessAble
You pay for parking when you are ready to leave.
When you are ready to leave the hospital, go to the machines in the car parks and enter all of your number plate. Press the search button and 3 options will appear:
- Option 1 “Yes, that’s my vehicle and the correct entry time” – press and pay for parking
- Option 2 “This is my vehicle but the entry time is wrong” – press and it takes you to the honesty screen
- Option 3 “No, the picture is not my vehicle” – press and it takes you to the honesty screen
If the vehicle is not found it takes you to the honesty screen.
Parking – pay by phone
You do this when you arrive.
- Visit the website, open the app or phone paybyphone
- Enter the location code (804078)
- Enter the time you expect to be parking for and pay
You can extend your parking time at any point during your stay in the app or by phone.
If you use paybyphone you do not need to go to the machines in the car park.
Parking charges
The drop off point outside the hospital’s main entrance can be used for 10 minutes only, with no charge. Visitors may park free of charge for the first 30 minutes in the main public car park.
- Up to 30 minutes – free (you do not have to use the machines)
- Up to 1 hour – £2.20
- Up to 2 hours – £3.30
- Up to 4 hours – £4.50
- Up to 5 hours – £5.50
- Up to 8 hours – £6.50
Long stay parking tickets are available from the kiosks located by the entrance barrier. Tickets must be purchased on arrival.
- 3 days – £8
- 5 days – £12
- 7 days – £14
Disabled drivers
Disabled and self-driving renal patients can park for free. There are wheelchair access spaces by the main entrance of the Primary Care Centre and in the visitors car park.
If you have a blue badge you must take it to the reception and register it on the system. The reception is located near the main entrance opposite the reception desk. You WILL NOT have to do this again until your blue badge expires or you change vehicle, as the ANPR system will recognise your number plate when you visit again.
Blue Badge holders must not park on double yellow lines or hatched areas.
- If Blue Badge holders are unable to register their badge in person at the hospital, please email the travel plan team and the team will be happy to help.
Parking for people attending cancer appointments
Car parking is free for people attending cancer appointments or radiotherapy appointments.
If you are attending the Collingwood Centre you should park in the main patient car park. You must register your vehicle registration on the parking tablet in the Collingwood Centre at every appointment.
If you are attending for radiotherapy you should park in the radiotherapy car park (the department will give you details). You must register your vehicle registration on the parking tablet in the radiotherapy department at every appointment.
If you have any issues, please ask in the department.
Support for parents with a baby in the neonatal unit
Please register your vehicle details using the parking tablet in the neonatal unit.
Parents of sick children staying overnight
Please register your vehicle details using the parking tablet in the children’s department.
Frequent outpatient attenders
If you need to attend hospital at least three times a month, for at least three months, you can claim free parking. A month is defined as a period of 30 days.
If you have a schedule of appointments that meet the frequent outpatient attenders criteria, take your letters to the general office. The travel team will add your vehicle details to our system for the duration of your treatment.
If your appointments are not known in advance, you can claim back parking charges at the end of your course of treatment by submitting your parking receipts to the general office.
Patients on dialysis
Please give your vehicle registration details to reception staff in the dialysis unit.
Support for patients who claim benefits
If you are a patient on any of the following benefits you can claim back parking charges and get a mileage allowance:
- Income Support
- Income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Tax Credit Exemption Card
- Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
- HC2/HC3 Form
Visitors on benefits cannot claim.
Disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders and parents of sick children staying in hospital overnight receive free car parking under national guidance. Definitions of these groups and further information can be found on the Government website.
If you have questions about parking at Colchester Hospital, please email the travel plan team.
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