We would like to inform patients, visitors and staff about proposed changes to car parking tariffs at Darent Valley Hospital, planned to take effect from 1 June 2026.
Car parking charges across the Trust have remained largely unchanged since 2020. During this time, we have reviewed our arrangements alongside other NHS organisations in Kent and Medway to understand how our charges compare locally.
This review showed that, in many cases, our current tariffs are lower than those at neighbouring trusts. The proposed changes below are intended to bring our parking charges more in line with similar NHS hospitals:
- Updated patient and visitor parking tariffs, based on a blended model used by neighbouring NHS trusts
- A simpler and more consistent charging structure
- Annual reviews of parking charges to reflect inflation
- Continued compliance with national NHS guidance, including free parking for specific patient groups where applicable
- We are particularly conscious of those who need to visit our hospitals frequently or stay for longer periods, and exemptions and concessions required under national NHS guidance will continue to apply
Our commitment to patients and visitors:
We fully understand the concern that costs are changing without a noticeable improvement in the overall parking experience. We also appreciate the stress this can cause, particularly for those attending appointments or visiting loved ones, and we are sorry for the distress and delays that parking difficulties may lead to.
While certain constraints at the site limit how much parking can be expanded, we remain committed to:
- Listening to patient and visitor feedback
- Treating concerns with respect and empathy
- Clearly explaining any changes before they take effect
- Being honest about the limitations we face
- Continuing to look at ways to improve traffic flow and parking arrangements, and we will provide updates as any plans progress.
We greatly value our visitors and recognise how important it is for patients to receive visits during their stay. If it is convenient, visiting after 4:00pm may help, as the car parks are usually quieter later in the day, which can make arriving at DVH a little easier.
Where possible, we also encourage patients and visitors to consider public transport when travelling to the hospital. To support this, journey planning information and local transport options are available at https://kentconnected.org/
Further information, including full parking tariffs and details of exemptions, will be shared ahead of the proposed implementation date of 1 June 2026.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.