Nurses hit hard after years of pay restraint

STAFF must pay to park at 348 of the 1,175 hospitals with facilities – about a third.

The highest average charge for staff is £2 an hour at the Edgware Community Hospital in North West London and Birmingham Children’s Hospital – equivalent to £80 for a 40-hour working week.

The highest average charge for patients is £3.20 per hour at St Thomas’ Hospital in Central London.

Steve Gooding of the RAC Foundation, which revealed the highest prices, said: “Many hospitals are in built-up locations, so some sort of control is inevitable, but this needs to be proportionate and stress free.”

Gerry O’Dwyer of the Royal College of Nursing said: “Hefty parking charges are disadvantaging staff who keep our NHS afloat. Many work through the night, and using public transport isn’t an option. After years of pay restraint they shouldn’t be overcharged for doing their jobs.”

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