Parking permits back at hospital

Staff at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath now need a permit to park after the Government ended its free parking scheme.

Facilities and estates director David McLaughlin said the Government had funded free hospital parking for NHS staff during the Covid pandemic while public use of the car parks was reduced.

He said: “This temporary funding ended on March 31 and staff parking at Princess Royal Hospital returned to a subsidised permit scheme on May 1.”

Some Middy readers took to Facebook to express their dismay at the decision.

Gill Mulholland called it ‘outrageous’, adding that ‘staff are under enough pressure’.

Dean Maisey said: “I think it’s disgraceful that hospital staff don’t get free parking.”

Erica Myles, a ward clerk at the Princess Royal, said she applied for a permit but needed to prove she had a medical condition to get one because she lives in Haywards Heath.

Erica, 55, said it cost her £30 to get a letter from her doctor.

She said: “If I get accepted

I will have to pay the permit fee on top, which is monthly."

Erica added: “There are other people that probably have the same issues and we shouldn't have to pay excess money."

David McLaughlin said: “The application process for a permit identifies colleagues with the greatest need to park at the hospital. It assesses work hours, shift times, job requirements, need to travel by car for work, where staff live, and availability of spaces.

“If staff meet the criteria for a permit, the subsidised cost depends on how much they earn. Staff earning up to £25,000 are charged £10-amonth, while those earning above £25,000 are charged between £25 and £60-amonth for a permit.”

Mr McLaughlin added: "Our permit scheme must balance provision of staff parking with both the needs of our patients and environmental concerns.

"If possible, we encourage our staff to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to work and we invest in green travel schemes to support this.”

He also said: “We regularly remind those who choose to park offsite to act responsibly and only park where they are legally entitled to do so."