The Hospital Parking Charges Bill has received Royal Assent and passed into law. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced the development.

The new legislation postpones the abolition of hospital parking charges outlined in the Hospital Parking Charges Act 2022. It responds to financial pressures on the health and social care system and prioritizes funding for frontline services.

The Department of Health can now set a new implementation date for the 2022 Act through regulations. Charges will end no later than 12 May 2029, or sooner if finances improve. The Assembly must approve any such regulations.

Nesbitt stated that ending the charges now would remove £7m from the health system amid tight budgets. He noted this loss would force cuts to patient services. The deferral safeguards frontline funding from immediate income reduction.

The law permits a delay of up to three years, with flexibility to advance the abolition date if financial conditions allow.