Unions urge Northampton General Hospital bosses not to make NHS staff pay to park at work

Health unions are urging bosses at Northampton General Hospital to put their money where their mouth is and keep free parking for NHS staff beyond the end of this month.

Doctors, nurses and support staff at the Cliftonville site usually pay around £18 a month to park even though many work shifts which makes using public transport impossible and live too far away to cycle.

Charges were scrapped during the Covid-19 pandemic yet ministers have now confirmed the emergency measures “cannot continue indefinitely” – prompting a backlash from trade unions.

NHS workers at nearby Milton Keynes University Hospital have already been told they will continue to get free parking. Director of corporate affairs, Kate Jarman, tweeted last night: "Parking for all staff has been free for staff at MK Hospitals since last year and will stay free."

But a spokesman for Northampton General Hospital said: "We are continually monitoring the situation. At the moment we’re offering free parking until the end of July, when we will review the position again."

UNISON East Midlands regional orgainser, Elliot Dean, said "NHS staff across Northamptonshire have worked incredibly hard throughout this pandemic and just a few weeks ago millions of people stood outside their homes and clapped in recognition of staffs outstanding contributions.

"It's now time for all NHS employers in Northamptonshire to put their money where their mouth is and scrap car parking charges for NHS staff.

"NHS staff pay thousands of pounds each year to park at work, while often on arrival not being able to find a space, leading them to have extra stress and worry distracting them from the vital work of saving lives and making people better again.

"With the NHS's Covid-19 response planned until at least March 2021 this move is shortsighted and would see many NHS staff taking public transport causing unnecessary risk to themselves and the wider public across the county."

Around the height of the Covid-19 crisis in March, the Department of Health and Social Care offered extra funding to abolish parking charges for staff without impacting on hospital budgets, encouraging them to avoid the risks of using public transport.

But Health minister Edward Argar said yesterday: “Free parking for staff has only been made possible by support from local authorities and independent providers and this support cannot continue indefinitely.”