Staff anger at rise in parking charges

Hospital fees up 43 per cent
HOSPITAL workers and union representatives at the Royal Oldham Hospital have been left up in arms over a hike in car parking charges.

Staff at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and North Manchester, have had to fork out 43 per cent more to park at work since May 1.

Staff working more than 25 hours a week have seen charges rise from £14 per month to £20.

Charges for those working 15 to 25 hours a week have gone up from £10.46 a month to £15; and those working up to 15 hours a week will now pay £6.50 a month, up from £4.56.

Pay and display charges for patients and visitors face annual rises but this is the first time in four years that staff parking permit charges have been increased.

Unite union representative Liz McInnes said: “Our position has always been that NHS staff should not have to pay to park at work.

“However, we did indicate that we were prepared to discuss a price increase in line with inflation, which currently runs at around 5 per cent, but not 43 per cent.”

Unison representative Mick McAiney said: “Management refused to consider any arguments put forward by the staff side. For many NHS staff this represents giving up a week’s wages every year just to park at work.

“Many staff have had their pay frozen this year and certainly no-one has had a 43 per cent pay rise.”

Mrs McInnes said many staff work across different sites, making options such as walking or using public transport impossible.

She said staff have asked management to reconsider.

A spokesman at the Pennine Acute Trust admitted the rise was “significant” but said if staff did not pay to maintain the car parks, money available for patient care would have to be used instead.

He said: “The trust has made significant investment in lighting and CCTV in its car parks and we have well developed plans to increase the number of car parking spaces at The Royal Oldham Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital later this year.

“Those who use car parks need to bear the costs otherwise we would need to fund the car parks from money for patient care.

“The fact that salaries are frozen is a national decision affecting the whole of the public sector, not one made by this trust.”

He added that staff could pay lower monthly charges by taking advantage of a salary sacrifice scheme.