University Hospital of North Staffordshire workers face parking rises
MORE than 1,000 hospital workers are protesting over plans to make them pay more to park at work.
Most of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire's 7,000 workforce will have to pay extra to park under the new scheme.
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The hospital is to start charging employees 0.5 per cent of their basic salary for a parking space from April – instead of the current flat rate of £6.11 a month.
More than 1,000 Unison members have already signed a petition against the change.
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The new scheme will see anyone earning less than £14,664 a year paying less to park than they do now – with those earning £30,000 having to pay twice as much.
A staff member earning £21,000 – which is the average starting salary for a nurse – would be expected to pay £8.75 a month, or £105 a year.
Unison branch secretary Rob Irving has consulted members over what action to take during two union meetings held this week.
He said: "We think the price of a car park should be the same for everyone. If you're buying a can of Coke, you don't have someone on a lower salary paying 60p, and someone on a higher salary paying £5. There's no difference in the parking space, so everyone should pay the same.
"The vast majority of employees will end up paying more under this system. If NHS employees get a one per cent pay rise next year, that will be mostly swallowed up by this parking increase.
"Some staff have to arrive at work 30 minutes early just so they can find a parking space."
Julia Ellis, Royal College of Midwives' leader at the hospital, said: "Staff will be far more amenable to an increase in the parking tariff if there is some improvement in the parking first.
"We're being asked to pay Marks and Spencer's prices for Lidl quality."
Royal College of Nursing senior steward Chris Bourne, left, added: "Nurses have been hit by a three-year pay freeze, higher pension contributions and a hike in our registration fees – now they face this rise in parking charges.
"Many staff would not mind paying if they could guarantee a space. But their working day is extended either by using the park and ride at the infirmary or having to hunt round for an empty bay."
The hospital is to increase its parking charges for the first time in four years.
Patients and visitors, who currently pay £2 to park for four hours, will now pay £3. Blue badge holders will be charged to park for the first time.
Hospital spokesman Andrew Ashcroft said: "The parking fees at the University Hospital are still significantly lower than many other trusts nationwide."
21 Comments
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by Basha
Saturday, February 09 2013, 1:48PM
“The 5 Principles for fair hospital car parking as outlined by Fair For all Not free For All
policy of the NHS confederation are:
1. Have a travel plan for users of all types of
transport.
2. Control parking fairly, with concessions for those
whose health conditions or work commitments
mean they have to park frequently or at
anti-social hours.
3. Show car park and transport costs and how
charges are invested.
4. Think about the environment and how transport
can reduce the NHS's impact.
5. Be open and involve patients and the public
University Hospital of North Staffordshire have not followed 2, 3 and 5. when announcing the new increase in car parking charges at the hospital.”
by Basha
Friday, February 08 2013, 7:09AM
“Hospital spokesman Andrew Ashcroft said: "The parking fees at the University Hospital are still significantly lower than many other trusts nationwide."
Andrew Ashcroft is talking about London. Stoke-on-Trent is not London. HAS HE EVER BEEN TO SCOTLAND OR WALES?
NHS Hospitals in Wales and in Scotland provide free car parking for patients. Has Andrew Ashcroft not heard about this? If he had then he should remove the word nationwide from the above statement.
The hospital says that Cancer and Renal patients can park free. There are no signs in the hospital car parks, which inform patients of this facility. Many Cancer patients have been paying for parking at the hospital. The hospital should refund all this money to these patients.
What is the justification for increasing the car parking charges for patients? Parking for patients in Hospitals should be free.
The only fair charge for patients to park at hospital is £1 for four hours. This money can then be used to maintain the car parks.”
by mrdoulton
Thursday, February 07 2013, 7:35PM
“so let me get this right
i have to pay for parking even though I paid NI that pays for hospitals already. talk about a connn to match the banks”
by Basha
Thursday, February 07 2013, 2:49PM
“It is highly unjustifiable to increase the car parking for patients from £2 to £3 for a four hour stay.
Car parking for patients in a hospital should be free.
If the hospital needs money to maitain its car parks then a charge of £1 for four hours is justifiable.”
by dougalcross
Thursday, February 07 2013, 1:35PM
“I can't see why Unison is objecting to a scheme under which the lowly-paid will pay less than their better off colleagues
It seems to follow sound socialist principles for the well-off to subsidise the poorly paid.”
by stokepotter
Thursday, February 07 2013, 8:13AM
“'Marks and Spencer prices for parking' . At £8.75 for a month when using a £21k nurse as the example. I think not. Not much more than a packet of cigarettes a week or a few beers.
I really cannot believethat FFDP1 is right that such a small amount a month as an average would force people to leave employment at the NHS. Those on minimum wage are paying far more than that to work in Hanley each week.”
by Clayhanger
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:58PM
“Julia Ellis, Royal College of Midwives' leader at the hospital, said: "Staff will be far more amenable to an increase in the parking tariff if there is some improvement in the parking first.
"We're being asked to pay Marks and Spencer's prices for Lidl quality."
What an unfortunate comment.......there is nothing wrong with Lidl”
by stokepotter
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 7:34PM
“Come on guys and gals, for a nurse on 21K, they will be paying a miserly £8.75 a MONTH. Not a lot to pay is it. Not much more than a packet of fags which we see you smoking from the A34 as we passs by. If you were on minimum wage, parking in Hanley to go to work then you would really have something to moan about.”
by jomould72
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 6:03PM
“Quite agree with Rob, everyone should pay the same for a parking space... currently £2 for 4 hours for patients”
by nobodystoke1
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 4:45PM
“rumour is that the new chief executive refused / doesn't have to pay for his parking permit, and infact he has even had his own named allocated parking space painted up the other day. Maybe 0.5% of his £800+ a day salary was a little hard to swallow. If this is true why should he not pay his share like everyone else!!!”