Northern Ireland's five health trusts have spent millions of pounds on infrastructure including automatic number plate recognition cameras to prepare for free car parking at hospital sites under the Hospital Car Parking Charges Act, originally scheduled for May. The Department of Health is deferring implementation due to severe budgetary pressures in the health service.

The Southern Health Trust spent £1.1 million including 13 cameras. The Western Trust spent £750,000 including 70 cameras. The South Eastern Health Trust spent £1 million including 50 cameras. The Northern Trust spent £750,000 including 17 cameras. The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust did not provide a spending figure.

Significant challenges exist at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital site, where more than 4,000 staff wish to drive to work but fewer than half that number of parking permits are available. Belfast Trust representatives told Stormont's health committee that a parking strategy used at Belfast City Hospital could not be replicated there.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt secured approval for legislation deferring the Act's introduction to prioritise frontline services. The deferral extends until 12 May 2029 but could occur earlier if funding becomes available. The annual cost saving is around £7.5 million.

The scheme applies to nearly 20,000 parking spaces at 16 healthcare sites. Patients and visitors face a maximum stay of 3.5 hours, extendable for valid reasons.

DUP MLA Diane Dodds expressed concerns over the lost revenue and infrastructure costs amid tight health budgets.