‘Kicked in the teeth by NUH and the public’
HOSPITAL WORKERS ‘FRUSTRATED’ OVER PARKING PERMIT ISSUES
DEJECTED hospital workers in Nottingham say they feel like they are being “kicked in the teeth” by both bosses and the public as they continue to be forced to park in the street.
More staff at Nottingham City Hospital have spoken to the Post about their frustration over parking since charges were reintroduced by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH).
Some workers, who were allowed to park free throughout the pandemic, have been left waiting for years for a parking permit, which is the only way they can park on-site.
As a result hospital staff have been parking on residential streets surrounding the hospital during their shifts, leading to residents putting out their bins in protest on one street in particular.
One disgruntled worker, healthcare assistant Jillian Whiting, 53, of Carlrton, said she had little other option after applying to NUH for a permit in 2019 and “consistently hearing nothing back”.
“It’s just so unfair,” she said. “It’s really stressful. I’ve been thinking, ‘do I need to move jobs?.’ Is there anything else they’re going to do? Or is it something we’ve got to get used to? I don’t want to do this in the winter when it’s dark nights.”
Ms Whiting got a lift from her daughter on the day parking charges were reintroduced, but was left unable to quickly get to her partner after she was told he had been rushed to Queen’s Medical Centre after an accident.
“I swore blind I would never come to work without my car again,” she said. Martine Proctor, an auxiliary nurse from Arnold, said the reintroduction of car park charges left her with no choice but to relocate to City Hospital from QMC, where she also parks on the street. “I had to leave my team of over five years,” said the 53-year-old. She said her manager had put her forward for a permit, but heard nothing back. “They’re not just my team, they’re my family. It’s very upsetting. You become more than colleagues – you become a unit,” said Ms Proctor. Referring to the protesting members of the public, she said: “I feel we are being kicked in the teeth because two years ago we were heroes. I don’t think they understand we are not allowed to park there. It’s ridiculous. “It’s soul destroying. We’ve been kicked in the teeth by NUH and the public as well.” Both workers said colleagues had complained of their cars being scatched after being parked on residential streets. “I’m hearing from other colleagues who have had this done,” said Ms Whiting. “When I go back to my car I’m getting quite wary in case someone comes out really upset because I’m parking there.
“I think it’s wrong that they took it away from us because where would the hospital be without us workers there?” Parking fees were waived for NHS workers across the country at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic before the Government stopped the scheme from April 1. NUH reintroduced the charges at the end of June. The trust has been approached for comment.
It’s very upsetting... two years ago we were heroes
Martine Proctor, auxiliary nurse