'An odd way to thank NHS staff': Ministers attacked over return of hospital parking charges

Parking fees were waived for NHS staff during the pandemic but workers will have to pay from April. Credit: PA

The decision to end free parking for NHS staff working in hospitals in England is a "very odd way" to thanks health workers who risked their lives during the pandemic, Labour has said.

Parking fees were waived for workers for hospital workers on the Covid-19 frontline in July 2020, but health secretary Sajid Javid said that the benefit would end on Friday.

In a written statement to the Commons, he said: "Free parking in hospital car parks for NHS staff introduced during the pandemic will also come to an end on March 31.

"However, over 93% of NHS trusts that charge for car parking have implemented free parking for those in greatest need, including NHS staff working overnight."

Unions said bringing back parking fees for NHS staff would add to further cost of living pressures already facing staff and could force many to quit.

Labour said: "it does seem a very odd way to thank NHS staff for their efforts over the pandemic, and in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis to take away free hospital parking at this time."

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Rachel Harrison, national officer for the GMB union, said: “Charging the NHS staff who’ve risked their lives during the pandemic to park at work is a sick joke.

“After the years of Tory cuts NHS trusts are struggling, we know.

“But scrabbling the money back off hard up workers is not the answer.

“The government must now legislate for free hospital staff parking once and for all.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Our amazing NHS key workers put their lives on the line to get us through this pandemic.

“Scrapping free car parking in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is a lousy way to repay that service.

“The government should be giving health staff a proper pay rise – not adding to their bills.

“And it should be funding our NHS properly so that hospitals don’t have to rely on car parks for income.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said that the perk was “temporary” and introduced in July 2020 “for the duration of the pandemic”.

It said that the scheme had cost around £130 million over the past two years.

A London Ambulance worker wearing PPE at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton added: “This is no way for the NHS to hang on to staff in the current job market.

“Parking charges will add hundreds of pounds to the massive cost pressures already facing health staff and reduce their morale even further.

“Those already on the brink of leaving the NHS may well see this as the final straw and head for the exit, just as the service needs experienced staff the most.

“More than a third of staff have had to ask family or friends for financial support in the last year, according to Unison research.

“More than two fifths say they’re taking on extra work to make ends meet.

“This is the reality facing health workers. An inflation-busting pay rise is vital to stop more staff leaving NHS jobs this year.”

In an update on Covid-19, Mr Javid wrote: “On behalf of the government, I would like to record my thanks to everyone who has worked tirelessly to keep people safe over the last two years and whose efforts have enabled us to move to the next stage of the Covid-19 response.”

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