The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is giving immediate financial backing for all NHS trusts to provide free car parking to NHS staff for the duration of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The government will cover the costs of providing free car parking to NHS staff working in hospitals during this unprecedented time, the Health Secretary has pledged today.

It comes as the Local Government Secretary has agreed local councils will also offer free car parking to all NHS workers and social care staff during the coronavirus outbreak.

In the face of this global pandemic it is essential NHS and social care staff are able to carry out their vital work without worrying about paying for car parking. Government is rightly committing to providing the financial backing NHS Trusts need to make this a reality in hospitals for the duration of this viral outbreak.

In response to the announcement, Mark Pritchard MP said:

"NHS staff should now have free parking at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.  I'm concerned to learn that nurses are still having to pay to park as they seek to help those most in need. Charges need to be scrapped today."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:

"Our NHS is facing an unprecedented challenge, and I will do everything I can to ensure our dedicated staff have whatever they need during this unprecedented time.  So we will provide free car parking for our NHS staff who are going above and beyond every day in hospitals across England.  My enormous gratitude goes out to the many NHS Trusts and other organisations already providing free car parking and I urge other Trusts to do the same with our backing.  We will do what is needed to protect the NHS, support our health and care staff, and save lives as we tackle COVID-19."