Advertisement

NHS staff advocacy groups call for government u-turn on scrapping free hospital parking

Members of staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital participate in a national NHS (National Health Service) celebration clap outside the hospital: AFP via Getty Images
Members of staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital participate in a national NHS (National Health Service) celebration clap outside the hospital: AFP via Getty Images

NHS staff advocacy groups are calling on the Government to reverse its decision to scrap universal free hospital parking for health service staff after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Department of Health has said that the scheme to fund fees incurred by NHS staff in privately run hospital car parks — first introduced as the UK lockdown began on March 25 — cannot “continue indefinitely”, and that workers will have to begin to pay for parking again in all but “certain circumstances”.

No certain timeline for the changes has been given.

The move has prompted an angry backlash, with the British Medical Association (BMA) calling it “a rebuff to the immense efforts of staff across the country and the sacrifices they have made to keep others safe”.

Matt Hancock's department has confirmed free parking for all staff will go (PA)
Matt Hancock's department has confirmed free parking for all staff will go (PA)

A spokesperson said: “The Government asked the NHS trusts to lift the parking charges because our health workers and care workers have done such an amazing job in looking after those of us who have been sick and ill. Nothing has changed in relation to that.”

Commentators have also condemned the decision, with Piers Morgan calling it "utterly disgusting". The Good Morning Britain host questioned why doctors, nurses and surgeons “have to pay for the privilege of going to hospitals to save our lives”.

Now NHS staff advocacy groups are calling for Health Secretary Matt Hancock to reverse the decision and ensure free parking for all NHS staff remains post-pandemic.

NHS Million, a grassroots campaign group run by health workers with a large presence online, told the Standard: “It is quite incredible how quickly the Government appears to have forgotten the extraordinary sacrifices made by NHS staff in recent months.

“We believe ongoing free parking is the very least that is deserved as staff continue to put themselves in harm’s way.”

Piers Morgan slammed the move on Wednesday morning (ITV/Good Morning Britain)
Piers Morgan slammed the move on Wednesday morning (ITV/Good Morning Britain)

Figures obtained by the Press Association showed hospital trusts made £65 million by charging staff to park in England — with some charging up to £3.50 an hour.

Those who do not pay risk being fined.

Dr Dolin Bhagawati ,from grassroots medic campaign group Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK), told the Standard: “The Doctors’ Association UK are appalled by the decision to charge NHS staff for parking at their place of work. Such actions demonstrate a casual amnesia by the Government to the commitment and sacrifice of NHS staff.

“The combination of this decision, refusal to countenance pay rises for NHS staff, and the Prime Minister’s comments blaming care homes for Covid-19 deaths shows breathtaking disregard and derision for our NHS and care staff.

“We would strongly urge the reconsideration of this decision.”

Grassroots NHS groups are calling for a U-turn (PA)
Grassroots NHS groups are calling for a U-turn (PA)

Boris Johnson caused a furore this week after appearing to blame care homes for Covid-19 deaths on their premises. He suggested that many "didn't follow procedures" to protect residents at the height of the epidemic.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson has rejected claims that Mr Johnson meant to blame care homes for deaths, saying on Wednesday: "The PM was pointing out that nobody knew what the correct procedures were because the extent of asymptomatic transmission was not known at the time."

Health minister Edward Argar said last week in response to a written parliamentary question that the waiver “cannot continue indefinitely”.

“The provision of free parking for National Health Service staff by NHS Trusts has not ended and nothing has changed since the announcement on 25 March,” he said.

“However, free parking for staff has only been made possible by support from local authorities and independent providers and this support cannot continue indefinitely.”

In response to another question from Labour’s Zarah Sultana, also answered on Friday, Mr Argar said the Government was “considering how long free parking for National Health Service staff will need to continue, recognising that this has only been made possible by external support from local authorities and independent sector providers”.

The Department of Health and Social Care would not give a date for the reintroduction of parking charges but said "thousands of NHS patients and visitors", including disabled people and staff working night shifts, will no longer have to pay.

A spokesperson added: “As the pandemic begins to ease, the NHS will continue to provide free hospital car parking to key patient groups and NHS staff in certain circumstances. We will provide further updates on this in due course."

Read more

'No basis' to free NHS parking scrap, says Morgan as No10 confirms it

Morgan: 'Utterly disgusting' that free parking for NHS to be scrapped

Campers charged after leaving 'devastating' mess in national parks