A new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) parking system went live at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Thursday 21st May 2026.
The new system replaces paper tickets and uses cameras to record vehicle registration numbers when entering and leaving the visitor car park and staff car park by Memorial Hall. The system is designed to make parking more convenient and reduce delays for drivers using the hospital site. It will also help modernise parking management and improve the overall experience for patients, visitors and staff attending the hospital each day.
The improvements form part of wider parking changes at the hospital designed to improve how parking operates on site, including simplifying the process for patients and visitors and helping improve traffic flow.
Under the new system, drivers will enter the car park as normal before paying for parking by entering their vehicle registration number at a payment machine prior to leaving.
There will also be a 20-minute grace period for drivers who enter and leave the site without parking.
Payment machines are located inside the hospital at:
• Women’s Centre Entrance
• Main Entrance
• Outpatients A (next to the post room)
Blue Badge holders will continue to be supported under the new system and should scan their Blue Badge at the payment machine before leaving.
The Trust and Synchronicity Care Limited recognise that parking can be challenging at busy hospital sites and have continued working to improve access and parking management at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
Further updates will continue to be shared as the remaining phases of the parking improvement project progress.