Allegations that private security staff employed to collect money from hospital car parks stole cash from machines

Wythenshawe Hospital Credit: MEN SYNDICATION

Police are investigating allegations that private security staff employed to collect money from hospital car parks stole cash from the machines.

Greater Manchester Police have arrested six people in connection with the inquiry centred on Wythenshawe Hospital.

Wythenshawe Hospital Credit: MEN SYNDICATION

Last year it was revealed the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust, which runs Wythenshawe , made £2.03m in the previous year from car park charges.

The job of operating the car parks at the hospital run internally at the Trust, but the collection of the cash is contracted out to a private security firm.In a statement GMP said:

It is understood the allegations date back to last year.A spokesperson for University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM) said:

A Freedom of Information request, reported in December, revealed hospitals across England were raising increasing amounts of money from staff, patients and visitors, including those who are disabled in car parking charges.

Hospitals are also handing over millions of pounds to private firms to run their car parks for them, and allowing some to cash in on car parking fines.Many defended their revenues, saying some or all of the money was put back in patient care or was spent on maintaining car parks or grounds.