University Hospital of North Staffordshire U-turn over staff parking charge
CONTROVERSIAL plans to make thousands of hospital staff pay more to park have been suspended after protests from workers.
Officials running the University Hospital of North Staffordshire had planned to introduce the new charges from April.
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ROW: Our story when plans for the new parking charges at the hospital, above, were announced.
But the move has been delayed until October to allow parking problems to ease at the Hartshill centre.
And the proposed parking charge tariff for the hospital's 7,000 staff is also being reviewed.
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The hospital had planned a new parking tariff based on 0.5 per cent of each employee's basic salary to replace the current flat-rate £6.11-a-month charge.
But only those earning less than £14,664-a-year would have seen their parking fees fall, with workers on £30,000-a-year charged twice as much.
More than 1,000 members of health union Unison signed petitions and as anger increased, the branch consulted staff about taking action.
The U-turn was last night welcomed by staff leaders.
Royal College of Midwives senior steward Julia Ellis said: "Common sense has prevailed.
"This was going to be brought in without any consultation or negotiation.
"With car parking that process does not have to happen under our terms and conditions of employment but in the interests of good relationships it would have made sense.
"We are pleased that it is not going to happen after all.
"Our position is that we would support an increased tariff if the car parking situation was improving.
"But in reality it is getting worse and as more demolition of old buildings takes place over the coming months it will be harder than ever to find a space.
"Therefore the trust could not have justified charging more at this time."
The hospital has 1,900 parking bays but plans to add 300 more by next year as old structures are knocked down and the £400million superhospital re-development of the City General site is completed.
Staff currently use a park and ride scheme at the Royal Infirmary where the last patient services closed before Christmas.
Andrew Ashcroft, hospital senior communications manager, said: "During the past three weeks we have listened to the concerns of staff about the availability of parking spaces at the City General.
"The trust has therefore decided to review the key changes to the staff tariff increase and is likely to defer the implementation date until October.
"Between now and then we will be working with staff to revise the proposed policy. "However, car parking is going to be increasingly challenging during the next stages of the site's redevelopment, including demolitions this year."
The hospital has also revealed plans to increase parking charges for patients and visitors from £2 for four hours to £3 from April 1.
It is also proposed to charge disabled blue badge holders to park for the first time from the same date.
7 Comments
by Basha
Friday, February 15 2013, 7:52PM
“There is no acceptance of the proposal by the University Hospital of North Staffordshire to charge a percentage of staff salary for car parking by the hospital staff who come to hospital to work in their own cars privately funded by their own income.”
by Basha
Friday, February 15 2013, 6:26PM
“Parking for patients and visitors at NHS hospitals in Wales and in Scotland is free.
Parking for patents and hospital staff at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire is said to be in line with NHS confederation "fair for all not free for all" 2009 policy.
The Hospital has not followed the following two principles of the above policy:
Be open and involve patients and the public
Show car park and transport costs and how charges are invested
When the hospital announced that from 1st April 2013 they will increase charges for patients and visitors to £3 for four hours no public consultation had taken place.
Because of the protest of the hospital staff the increase for hospital staff has been withdrawn and is now on the discussion table.
Patients parking charges should be discussed with the public first and the proposed increase from 1st April 2013 should be withdrawn."
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/aqjarr4
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by tar2001
Friday, February 15 2013, 6:12PM
“Council worker get free parking in the council office.
But the nurses will have to pay 0.5% of their salary to turn up to work and find a (non-existent) parking slot.
Is this another stealth tax? Fleecing the already hard working and demoralised work force.
Which mo***s idea is it?
Should they not give free parking to all the staff members to make them valued?”
by Basha
Thursday, February 14 2013, 1:07AM
“There is no justification in charging patients £3 for 4 hours. Most patients need to park only for 2 hours. There should be charge for 2 hours, 4 hours and full day. Most visitors will park for less than 2 hours. So A suggested parking tariff would be:
£2 for 2 hours
£4 for 4 hours
£6 for all day).
INFORM PATIENTS ON CLINIC APPOINTMENT LETTER TO PAY FOR 2 HOURS.
Let the hospital be sensible once again just like they have been about the staff car parking. Staff car parking charges can never be linked to a percentage of staff salary. The person who dreamt this should now wake up. Most dreams are not true.
Many NHS hospitals charge a reduced rate after 8PM and on Sundays for visitors. In Stoke-on-Trent public transport after 8PM and on Sundays is not very frequent.
So let have some common sense here too;
8Pm - 6AM Weekdays and on Sundays and Bank Holidays, reduce charges for visitors to a flat rate of £1 including the blue badge holders.”
by BucknallMel
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 4:33PM
“The real issue here is not about charging blue badge users, it's about charging staff. There should be adequate free parking for all staff at medical facilities. Why should council workers get free parking and nurses not?”
by hidski
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 1:57PM
“The purpose of not charging blue badge holders is often misunderstood. It defeats the purpose to have a disabled user park near to their destination and then expect them to walk half way across the car park to purchase a ticket. Where would they place the ticket machines to prevent this? or do they not care? or maybe they will again provide little golf buggies to drive to the pay and display!
Also £3.00 is expensive to park for 4 hours when in many case's your visit can be less than 1 hour. Why don't they give the option of less time for less cost?”
by hidski
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 1:49PM
“The purpose of not charging blue badge holders is often misunderstood. It defeats the purpose to have a disabled user park near to their destination and then expect them to walk half way across the car park to purchase a ticket. Where would they place the ticket machines to prevent this? or would they not care?
Also £3.00 is expensive to park for 4 hours when in many case's your visit can be less than one hour. why don't they give the option of less time for less cost?”
by lagu2
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 11:13AM
“Totally agree with charging bule badge holders”