HCSA calls for end to £86m staff car park charges

HCSA - the hospital doctors union has called for car parking charges to be scrapped after a huge 24 per cent leap in the amount NHS staff are being charged just to turn up for work.

The total amount paid out by staff reached £86.2 million in 2018-19, up from £69.5m in 2017-18.

Twenty-two Trusts charged staff more than £1 million each in 2018-19, with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (£3.05m) and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (£2.23m) the worst offenders.

HCSA President Dr Claudia Paoloni said: “It is a disgrace that hospital doctors and other staff are having to subsidise Trusts in financial difficulties through a stealth tax on their employment. Essential shift and on-call staff in hospitals are hit particularly hard.

“The amounts being raised in this way are eyewatering – Trusts should hang their heads in shame for allowing this charges regime to continue. They know, because we have raised the issue again and again at a local level, that this is a major concern for medical staff.

“To hospital doctors and other NHS employees, this projects a casual disregard for morale and a clear lack of respect on the part of their employers.

“These figures may be a pin prick compared to the overall NHS budget, but they have a disproportionate impact on hospital staff at a time when we are already struggling with retention and recruitment.”

Trusts charging £1m+ for staff parking charges