Parking at our hospital sites

Parking at our hospitals
New multi-storey car park
There is a new multi-storey car park at Watford General Hospital. The address is: Shrodells Road, Watford
Sat nav – use the address above or the postcode for Thomas Sawyer Way, WD18 0GS
Click here to see video with information and how to find it. (Maximum vehicle height 2.1m)
- Parking charges
- Pay by Phone
- Concession parking procedures
- Blue badge holders
- Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)
- Hospital site maps showing buildings and car parks
- Map of Watford General Hospital and car park information
Parking charges:
Car parking charges at our hospital sites apply 24 hours, Monday - Sunday. Please note, our ticket machines only accept coins, but you are also able to pay by card via Pay by Phone.
- Up to 1 hour: £3.50
- Up to 2 hours: £5.00
- Up to 3 hours: £7.00
- Up to 4 hours: £8.00
- Up to 5 hours: £9.00
- Up to 6 hours: £10.00
- Up to 12 hours: £12.00
- 12 to 24 hours: £15.00
Parking is free for stays of less than 30 minutes allowing for easy drop off.
Free parking and concessions are available for some patients and visitors; please see details below.
Switchboard telephone numbers are:
Watford: 01923 244366
Hemel Hempstead: 01442 213141
St Albans: 01727 866122
Pay by Phone
You can also pay for car parking by card using your mobile phone.
You are able to pay for your parking at Watford Hospital online, via the PayByPhone application or over the phone after a short registration process. To do this, visit the PayByPhone website, application or call 0330 400 7275. The Watford Hospitals site code is: 8490.
Claims for free and discounted parking
Free parking is available for:
- Next of kin of patients who are receiving end of life care or critical care
- Parents/carers of children who are inpatients
- Long term patients who over a period of at three months have frequent outpatient appointments. (Frequent is defined as three or more planned appointments a month, over a 90-day period).
Claim forms are available from wards and clinics. The ward staff will authorise the form. Please take the completed form to our parking hub team who will process it (see locations below).
Concessionary parking rates are available for:
Patients and visitors who attend frequently can apply for a weekly or monthly
parking permit at concessionary rates.
£24 per week
£48 per month
Concession claim forms are available from wards and clinics. The ward staff will authorise the form, then take it to our parking hub team (see locations below) who will process it.
- Refunds of payments already made cannot be reimbursed
- Visitors / patients must only use visitor and patient car parks
- Failure to comply will result in a penalty charge notice being issued.
Blue Badge holders
With ANPR blue badge holders can park in any available bay, as well as in dedicated disabled spaces located on levels 1 to 6 of the car park, close to the lifts for easy exit.
On exit, please insert your ticket into the ticket machine (next to the lifts on level 2) and then scan the barcode of your Blue badge; this will allow exit from the multi-storey car park without charge.
Failure to display a valid disabled badge in a disabled bay could result in a penalty charge.
Location of parking offices
- At Watford, go to the Parking Hub on Level 0 of the multi-storey car park
- At St Albans go to the blue hut located along the main road to the front of the Main Entrance
- At Hemel Hempstead – blue hut located on level 3, Verulam Wing to the side of the canopy (Entrance way)
Please note that failure to comply with parking terms and conditions may result in a penalty charge.
Parking charges apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Users should only park in designated areas within a marked bay. Users should not park on red or double yellow lines, in hatched areas or on zebra crossings.
Penalty charge: £50. This will be reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days.
Documents for download
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)
If you are referred to hospital for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
What are the qualifying benefits and allowances?
You can claim help with travel costs if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Working Tax Credit (WTC) with Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element
- CTC but you're not eligible for WTC
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- you receive Universal Credit and meet the criteria
Check if you are eligible with the NHS Business Services Authority online eligibility checker.
What can I claim?
Travel expenses, to and from hospital appointments will be reimbursed for the use of public transport, as well as mileage and parking costs.
Exceptions can be agreed depending on your age, medical condition or any other relevant factors, such as the availability of public transport. Patients may be able to claim for travel by taxi if this supported by a letter from your consultant or GP.
To claim reimbursement, we need proof that you are in receipt of benefits, confirmation that you have attended your appointment and receipts for the costs incurred. Without receipts, we are unable to reimburse your travel costs.
Please note that we are only able to reimburse for travel costs to appointments provided West Hertfordshire Hospital NHS Trust
The Patient Affairs office is at the main reception at Watford General Hospital. It is open between 9am and 4pm.
You can post a claim, with receipts to:
Patient Affairs
West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust
Vicarage Lane
Watford
WD18 0HB
Telephone: 01923 217114
Email: westherts.patientaffairs@nhs.net
See here for more information about HTCS