Health workers across three major hospital trusts serving south Devon paid more than £2 million in staff parking charges in a single year, according to NHS data.

A total of £2,077,117 was recorded across University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in the 2025/26 financial year.

University Hospitals Plymouth, which includes Derriford Hospital and operates 48 sites, accounted for the largest share, bringing in £1,266,856 from staff parking.

Royal Devon University Healthcare recorded £441,112, while Torbay and South Devon received £369,149 - an increase of £22,000 compared to the previous year.

The figures come from NHS England’s Estates Returns Information Collection, which gathers information about NHS estates and facilities, including car parking.

When compared with workforce figures, the data also reveals differences in the average annual parking income per full-time equivalent (FTE) member of staff.

At University Hospitals Plymouth, which had 9,920 FTE staff, the income equated to around £127.71 per FTE.

At Torbay and South Devon, with 5,826 FTE staff, the equivalent figure was £63.37. At Royal Devon University Healthcare, which had 12,156 FTE staff, it was £36.29.

The average at University Hospitals Plymouth was therefore around twice that of Torbay and South Devon, and three-and-a-half times that of Royal Devon University Healthcare.

Charging NHS staff to park at work has been a longstanding point of contention, with trade unions arguing that workers should not have to pay to attend their shifts.

Staff parking charges were temporarily suspended across the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the suspension was not made permanent.

Staff working night shifts between 7.30pm and 8.00am are required to receive free parking for the duration of their shift.

In 2025, Royal Devon University Healthcare defended an increase in its parking charges.

Chris Tidman, the trust’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Raising car parking charges is not something we want to do, but we need the income to provide and maintain our car parks. All parking income goes to the Trust, so any money left over supports us to provide patient care.”

However, GMB Union has renewed criticism of staff parking charges, describing the issue as “utterly obscene”.

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “On what planet is it a good idea to charge health workers just for going to work?

“Despite finally getting a pay rise under the Labour Government, NHS workers are underpaid and massively overstretched. They're trying to save lives on a shoe string budget inside a creaking system.

“They need our help and support, not having pounds pinched out of their pocket just for trying to do their job.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said local trusts are responsible for car parking space numbers, rates for parking and charging methods, but all parking charges should be "reasonable for the local area."

They added: "Free parking is available for those in greatest need, including all NHS staff who work overnight.

"While hospital car park charges are the responsibility of individual NHS trusts, we expect all charges to be reasonable and in line with the local area".