Hospital’s free park-and-ride plan for nurses

But £1.50 saving to hit colleagues

A HOSPITAL is offering staff three months of free out-of-town parking after an outcry over its charges for onsite spaces.

When the park-and-ride bus trial ends, it will be available to nurses and other NHS workers for £1.50 a day – half the normal price.

But bosses at Colchester General in Essex admit the cost of providing the perk means higher charges for staff who carry on parking at work.

The plan was revealed as figures showed four in 10 NHS trusts are putting up car park charges, which have raked in more than £200million in England over the past

Pyear. Pressure has been mounting on NHS bosses to scrap the fees Colchester’s park- and- ride buses run until 9pm in the week, 7pm on Saturdays, but not on Sundays. Public sector union Unison welcomed the three-month offer to hospital staff, but said it should be extended. Sara Gorton, Unison’s head of health, said: “Money is tight but hospital bosses should provide free parking for patients and staff wherever possible. Park-and-ride schemes can help, but trusts shouldn’t forget about staff who finish in the early hours, or who work at weekends.”

The programme was introduced by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, and Essex County Council after outrage over a lack of onsite parking permits.

The hospital’s 3,000 staff were told the 1,000 permits will be offered based on need, and will rise in price to fund the park-and-ride discount.

Nearly 60,000 people have signed a petition backing the Mirror’s End the Hospital Parking Rip- Off campaign, calling for fees to be axed.