Parking at Dorset County Hospital
From 3 July 2023, car parking across the main hospital site - not just the multi-storey car park - will operate using automatic number plate recognition. We hope this will make it easier to park, as you will not need to worry about your ticket running out.
As you enter our site via Williams Avenue or Damers Road you will need to take a ticket at the barrier to be able to pass through. This also applies if you are dropping off/picking up or a Blue Badge holder.
If you are parking in a car park without a barrier (Diabetes Centre, Robert White Centre or Trust Headquarters), please follow instructions on signs in these areas. Payment machines are available.
Dropping off and picking up
If you are dropping someone off or picking them up, you can park for free for up to 20 minutes and there are drop-off areas by the wing entrances. Take a ticket as you enter. You won’t need to go to a pay machine before you leave. Simply insert your ticket at the exit barrier on your way out.
Disabled parking
It is important that Blue Badge holders can park as close to the hospital buildings as possible. There are no dedicated spaces for Blue Badge holders in the multi-storey car park, but there are dedicated disabled parking spaces across the hospital site by other wing entrances.
Blue badge holders can park for free. Take a ticket from the barrier when you arrive on site and scan the barcode on your blue badge at the barrier as you leave. If there are any issues the transport team will be able to help.
Parking charges for patients and visitors
New payment machines have been installed around the site. Before you leave, pop your ticket into the payment machine and it will tell you how long you have parked for and how much you need to pay. You will be able to pay by card or cash. Public car parking charges remain the same.
| Duration | Cost |
| Up to 1 hour | £1.70 |
| Up to 2 hours | £2.60 |
| Up to 3 hours | £3.70 |
| Up to 4 hours | £4.50 |
| Over 4 hours | £7.00 |
Parking concessions
The following parking concessions are available:
Carers Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy | Free - please present your Carer's Passport to the department you are visiting Free while in treatment |
| Critical Care Unit | Free while in treatment |
| Special Care Baby Unit | Free while in treatment |
| Renal Dialysis Unit | Free while in treatment |
| Discharge Lounge | 20 minutes free parking in marked bays, otherwise normal rates apply |
| Emergency Department | 20 minutes free parking in marked bays, otherwise normal rates apply |
| Maternity | £2.50 per day |
| Day Surgery and Endoscopy | £2.50 per day |
Kingfisher Ward and Children's Day Surgery | £2.50 per day |
| Cardiac Catheter Lab | £2.50 per day |
| General Wards | £12.50 per week for stays for over 7 days |
End of Life Care and Bereavement | Free |
Patients and visitors entitled to parking concessions should ask the department they are visiting for a concession form. When you leave, you will need to go to the Transport Hub which is the white cabin next to the Williams Avenue entrance. The team will take payment and validate your ticket so you can exit via the barrier. The Transport Hub is open 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours, please visit the switchboard hatch in North Wing Entrance 1.
If you have any queries please contact the Transport Team on 01305 253151 or 255100 or email carparkingenquiries@dchft.nhs.uk
Frequently asked questions about parking
Who can park in the multi-storey car park?
Patients, staff and visitors can use the multi-storey car park. There are also parking spaces around the hospital site. There are no disabled spaces in the multi-storey car park, but there are disabled parking bays across the hospital site, plus spaces by other wing entrances.
Do I have to park in the multi-storey car park?
No, there are still some general parking spaces across the wider site too as before, as well as disabled parking spaces, plus spaces for chemotherapy patients and those receiving dialysis treatment.
What if I’m just dropping off or picking up? Will I be charged?
No. There is a 20-minute free period for those who are dropping off and picking up. You still need to take a ticket from the barrier as you enter the hospital and then put the ticket back through the barrier system as you leave. If there are any issues, the transport team can help.
I’m a Blue Badge holder. Can I still park for free and where can I find disabled spaces?
It is important that Blue Badge holders can park as close to the hospital buildings as possible.
Blue Badge holders should not park in the multi-storey car park. Instead, there are dedicated disabled parking spaces across the site that are closer to the entrances.
Blue Badge holders will still park for free. You will still need to enter using the barriers and take a ticket, but our system will recognise Blue Badges. When you leave, scan the barcode on your Blue Badge at the exit barrier.
I ride a motorcycle. Where do I park and do I need to go through the barrier?
Motorcyclists can park for free on site. You don’t need to go through the barriers, just ride around them. There are areas for motorcyclists in front of North Wing and by East Wing (near the pencils sculpture).
I drive an electric car. Where are parking spaces with charging points?
There are 12 in the multi-storey on the first floor and two by the East Wing Entrance. Payment information and instructions are on the charging points. We have the ability to add more to the car park in the future if there is the demand.
I help with patient transport and volunteer to drop patients off. Do I need to pay to park?
If you are dropping someone off or picking them up, you can park for free for up to 20 minutes and there are drop-off areas by the wing entrances. Take a ticket as you enter. You won’t need to go to a pay machine before you leave. Simply insert your ticket at the exit barrier on your way out.
What security measures are in place?
We have security cameras across the site and these will be monitored 24/7.