Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Croydon’s NHS hospital car parks face expanded surveillance, sparking public concern over privacy, monitoring practices, and the hospital trust’s policies.
The NHS Trust in charge of Mayday and Purley hospitals is implementing a new payment system in its car parks that uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Visitors to the hospitals must pay their parking charges using QR codes or payment cards.
ANPR, according to Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, will
“make parking simpler, safer, and more efficient for staff and visitors”.
However, some patients and hospital visitors may realize that they cannot park their car without using a smartphone or risk receiving a fee.
Vehicle number plates will be scanned and recorded as they enter and exit the Mayday and Purley War Memorial Hospital car parks using ANPR technology.
The Trust claims that its new approach would prevent “misuse of bays” and “enhance security and safety” while “simplifying” parking fee payments.
Hospital employees and visitors can now pay for parking using the NewPark Trust app:
“Once registered, permit-holders can pay for parking sessions or activate autopay — your parking charge is processed automatically when you leave, so there’s no need to remember to pay each day.”
The hospital parking lots will also feature “Virtual Pay Stations” for people who do not want to use the app but still need an online payment system and a smartphone to scan a QR code.
There will also be payment terminals at Croydon University Hospital’s car park exits
“for those who prefer to pay by card or contactless before leaving”.
There is no mention of facilities that accept cash payments, which many hospital visitors, particularly elderly patients, prefer.
Purley has no separate staff parking (this is why so many employees utilize the Purley Pool parking lot). PWMH employees who park at the hospital
“must pay at the advertised visitor rates, using any of the above payment methods”.
Parking fees presently range from £3 for one hour to £15 for five to 24 hours (the daily limit).
There are certain concessions provided for hospital visitors, with blue badge holders receiving up to three hours of free parking.
Those who fail to pay for parking may get PCNs (penalty charge notifications).
Contractor Saba manages car parking at the Trust, and they presently accept cash payments. There appears to be no such option in the ANPR system.
What privacy policies govern ANPR camera footage retention?
ANPR camera footage retention in UK hospital auto premises , including Croydon’s NHS spots, is governed by the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and the ICO’s law of Practice for Surveillance Cameras. Drivers must retain data only for as long as necessary for the specified purpose( parking enforcement, security), generally 30- 90 days unless needed for legal reasons like controversies or examinations.
At Purley War Memorial Hospital, staff must pay caller rates since there’s no dedicated staff parking, while at Croydon University Hospital staff parking is available via permits. The system also supports automatic payment to help penalties for missed payments.
The trouble aims to create a safer, more effective parking terrain but has sparked conversations around availability for those without smartphones or cashless payment options.