PARKING charges for patients and visitors are being reintroduced at Airedale Hospital next week.

The fees, which were suspended in late March following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, will apply again from Monday (October 5).

A spokesman for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said: "As more of our clinics and services restart, there is a greater need for parking spaces for patients and visitors.

"Over the past few weeks, the trust has had feedback about the challenges people have had finding a parking space onsite.

"From Monday, the trust will return to the arrangements that were in place before the pandemic. This is in line with recently-published national guidance on patient parking and helps us to protect spaces for patients and visitors, making the process of finding a parking space as easy as possible for them.

"Blue badge holders continue to park for free and concessions are available for certain patient groups such as cancer patients.

"The first 20 minutes remain free, to allow people to be dropped off/collected, and anyone using the drop off/pick-up service for patient belongings will be directed to free parking. Full details can be found at airedale-trust.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/parking."

The trust added that in line with national guidance, parking would remain free for trust staff.