Parking at our hospitals
Our car parking space limit is allocated by Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Council (BCP) and is split between patients, visitors and staff. All the income received from car parking charges allows us to maintain and manage our car parks and support more sustainable transport alternatives. Any surplus money goes back into patient care.
Please arrive in plenty of time so you do not miss your appointment. If you are parking on or around our hospital sites, please allow an extra 30 minutes as parking is limited.
Car park relocation on the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site
In order to enable the important work for our new BEACH Building and main entrance works on the RBH site, a number of car parks have been relocated. Please allow plenty of time before your appointment to travel due to the demand for parking.
Patient and visitor parking
Visitors can park to the rear of car park P3 at the back by the Eye Unit and Derwent Centre.
Blue badge holders can use car park P2, at the side near the Diabetes and Endocrine Centre. There is a small car park P1 in front of the Rehabilitation and Dorset Prosthetic Centre entrance. This car park is for blue badge holders .
There is a ticketless number plate recognition system on entry of car park P3.
Before you leave, you should enter your vehicle registration and pay at the pay station before returning to your car. Car park pay stations at the Royal Bournemouth accept debit/credit cards and cash. They also have an intercom if you need help.
For more information and a plan of the changes click here.
Drop-off locations
There are drop off and pick up areas at the Emergency Department and west wing main entrance at the rear of the hospital. Waiting is strictly limited to 20 minutes and cars must be parked in designated areas.
Bicycle parking
Bicycle parking is available with various bike shelters and stands located in the car parks, and motorcycles may be parked free of charge in designated spaces.
There are two small surface car parks available, one located at St Mary's Outpatients' Unit and the other adjacent to the junction of Shaftesbury and St Mary's roads. Tickets for these car parks must be purchased and displayed clearly in the windscreen.
A multi-storey car park is situated on the main hospital site, the entrance to which is on Longfleet Road (a covered walkway from the car park (level G) leads to the main hospital). The payment terminal for the multi-storey is located in the main entrance and accepts coins, notes or credit / debit cards. Payment may also be made at the security/ car parks office which is also located in the main entrance next to reception (card only). Please make sure that you make payment before returning to your vehicle.
Extra wide spaces for wheelchair users are available in the multi-storey car park on levels C and G.
To find out more about disabled access, click here
A small number of bays are also available by Entrance North and the Main Entrance to the hospital for dropping off and picking up patients.
Christchurch Hospital has five car parks serving different areas as follows:
- Car park A for Macmillan, Therapies, Outpatients, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, X-Ray and Ultrasound. This car park also has a drop-off area, motorbike parking and a short stay area for the Grove Pharmacy.
- Car Park B for the Macmillan Day Centre and Macmillan Outpatients
- Car Park C for the Howard Centre and the Day Hospital. This car park includes spaces for patient transport ambulances and has two motorbike spaces as well as a bicycle shelter
- Car Park D for the Day Hospital
- Car Park E for Dermatology
- Car Park F is for Grove Surgery patients only
Bicycle parking is available for staff in the Macmillan Courtyard and there are hoops for public use by the North entrance and by Dermatology.
*Please note, parking arrangements will change when the building work begins on the Macmillan Unit. This page will be kept up to date.
Parking charges
Please look out for the signs in our car parks and on roadways around the hospital which explain where you can and cannot park. Parking charge notices (PCNs) may be issued against vehicles failing to comply - for example, parking in hatched areas, out of a marked bay, or in a manner that causes an obstruction.
If you are issued with a PCN, you can appeal against it by following the process detailed on the notice.
Daily Parking Charges
| Duration of Stay | from 1st May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Less than 20 mins | Free |
| Up to 2 hours | £2.70 |
| Up to 3 hours | £3.70 |
| Up to 4 hours | £4.90 |
| Up to 6 hours | £7.00 |
| 24 hours | £12.30 |
| Overnight (18:00 - 07:00) | £3.10 |
Concessionary Parking
Concessions for parking are available in line with mandatory elements of the NHS Car Parking Guidance 2022, to certain groups of staff, patients or visitors. At UHD these include:
Staff:
Night Shifts Staff working nights (between 07:30pm and 08:00am) receive free parking and should select this option when submitting a staff parking permit application. Evidence may be required
Blue Badge Holders:
Staff with a blue badge receive free parking and should select this option when submitting a staff parking permit application. Evidence may be required
Patients & Visitors:
Parked within ANPR car park - leave the clock in the vehicle and take the card into the hospital. On leaving, enter registration into the pay station, press search then scan the bar code on the blue badge against the red light.
Frequent outpatient attenders:
Free parking will be provided to those attending outpatient appointments at least 3 times within a month and for an overall period of at least 3 months. A signed concession form will be required. See below.
Parent / Guardian of sick child staying overnight:
Free parking (between 7.30pm and 8.00am) will be provided to a parent or guardian of a child or young person, under 18 years of age, who is admitted as an inpatient at hospital overnight. A signed concession form is required. See below
End Of Life Visitor:
Free parking will be offered to immediate family members / loved ones of a patient who has commenced on a Personalised Care Plan for the last days of life (PCPLDL). A signed concession form will be required. See below
UHD Concession Form - Where the above requirements are met, a senior staff member on duty must complete the concession form and provide this to the individual. Prior to leaving site the form must then be taken to the Parking Offices on either Poole or Bournemouth sites for validation
Expired Permit
Continue to use as long as payments are still being made.
For more information, please speak to the staff on the ward you are visiting.
Travel expenses
If you receive income support, working tax credit and/or child tax credit or income-based job seeker's allowance, you may be able to reclaim your travel costs. You will need to show your appointment letter from each appointment and any tickets at the travel claims office. Please ask for directions at the reception desk (entrance 10) at Poole Hospital and the cashiers office, west wing within orthopedic out patients area at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Their opening hours are 9.30 a.m. until 12.00 p.m Monday to Friday.
