Hospital staff protest over car parking charges

Unison's Sharon Howlett said NHS staff should not "have to pay to come to work"

Staff members from a hospital have announced they will protest after car parking charges were reintroduced by the trust.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King's Lynn, Norfolk, brought back the charges on 1 April after they were paused in 2020 during the Covid pandemic.

Sharon Howlett, Unison QEH branch secretary, said NHS staff should not "have to pay to come to work".

John Syson, the director of people at the QEH, said: "Any money raised from car parking at the trust goes directly back into patient care and making improvements to our car parks."

Hospital staff are able to apply for a parking permit, but this does not mean they are guaranteed a space.

The staff members taking part in the action will protest outside the hospital between 12:00 and 13:00 BST this week.

Ms Howlett said it was not "too late" to reverse the decision.

"Our 2024 pay rise is now overdue, but instead of trying to help us cope with the cost of living, the trust is increasing the cost of working," she said.

However, Mr Syson said the charges remained at the same price they were in 2019.

"This reintroduction brings us in line with the other acute hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney," he said.

What are the parking charges at other Norfolk hospitals?

The James Paget University Hospital in Norfolk reintroduced car parking charges for staff in December 2023

The James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, reintroduced car parking charges for staff from 1 December 2023, following the Covid pandemic.

It has since "temporarily paused" parking charges whilst the trust builds 376 parking spaces for staff on a new plot of land as part of its expansion plans.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that when the charges are brought back, they will be the same price as those that were in place prior to the pandemic.

"Income from parking charges is invested in car park facilities, including security and maintenance. Any surplus made is put back into healthcare provision."

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals offer free parking for staff who work night shifts and weekends, as does the QEH and other hospitals around the country.

The hospital said it has been continuing to run a free park and ride service for staff from Costessey and a shuttle service from Thickthorn Park and Ride outside of Norwich.