Protest at hospital parking charge plan
Sheffield Today
HUNDREDS of NHS workers staged a demonstration in the grounds of a Sheffield hospital to protest over a decision to impose car parking charges on staff.
Around 200 medical and admin workers at the Northern General waved placards at the Herries Road entrance in protest at the introduction of new parking permits which will cost £260 a year.
Until now parking for staff has been free and it is claimed low-paid workers, who will be subject to the same parking charge as consultants, will suffer most.
Monica Brookfield has worked at the hospital as a porter for 22 years and says the cost of a permit will put a significant dent in her £180 weekly pay packet. "I cannot afford it and a lot of other people can't either," she said.
Workers also claim fees at the hospital's day nursery are to be hiked up by as much as 33 per cent in September - and say the combined increases will make it too expensive for some people to come to work.
Pharmacist Tanya Kadlez, a staff representative for the Amicus union, said: "It is unfair as people will suffer. Some took a job at the Northern General Hospital because of the free car parking and it will be very hard for people who also have to pay for childcare."
Irene Goodison, a medical secretary in orthopaedics, says the £260 parking charge will wipe out this year's pay rise from her part-time job.
She said: "It is the first time I've been on a protest and I've come in on my day off. I've worked for the NHS for 30 years and it is something I feel very strongly about."
Unison branch secretary John Campbell was pleased with the turnout and said it reflected the mood of workers."People are angry about the lack of consultation and the increase in the day nursery charges - people are up in arms about it," he said. "The Trust has to save £90 million in the next three years and it is the staff who are being picked on."
Staff are also unhappy that, even if they decide to pay and are awarded a permit, they will not be guaranteed a parking space in the hospital grounds.
Lee Radforth, who works in the respiratory department, said he spends 30 minutes driving to work, but a bus from his home in Deepcar would take an hour-and-a-half each way.
A spokeswoman for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the city's adult hospitals, said: "This is about treating all our staff equally and harmonising parking charges across hospitals in the city. Staff working at the Royal Hallamshire and Jessop Wing hospitals have paid for their parking permits for a number of years. We are now introducing charges for staff at the Northern General and Weston Park hospitals to ensure staff working at all the hospital sites pay the same rates.
"We will be working closely with our staff organisations to ensure these changes are implemented as sensibly and fairly as possible."
The Trust is also looking at car-sharing schemes and incentives for cyclists.She said the staff nursery had been running at a loss and that it was not thought right NHS money was used to support staff services. She said the nursery will continue to operate on a not-for-profit basis.
HUNDREDS of NHS workers staged a demonstration in the grounds of a Sheffield hospital to protest over a decision to impose car parking charges on staff.
Around 200 medical and admin workers at the Northern General waved placards at the Herries Road entrance in protest at the introduction of new parking permits which will cost £260 a year.
Until now parking for staff has been free and it is claimed low-paid workers, who will be subject to the same parking charge as consultants, will suffer most.
Monica Brookfield has worked at the hospital as a porter for 22 years and says the cost of a permit will put a significant dent in her £180 weekly pay packet. "I cannot afford it and a lot of other people can't either," she said.
Workers also claim fees at the hospital's day nursery are to be hiked up by as much as 33 per cent in September - and say the combined increases will make it too expensive for some people to come to work.
Pharmacist Tanya Kadlez, a staff representative for the Amicus union, said: "It is unfair as people will suffer. Some took a job at the Northern General Hospital because of the free car parking and it will be very hard for people who also have to pay for childcare."
Irene Goodison, a medical secretary in orthopaedics, says the £260 parking charge will wipe out this year's pay rise from her part-time job.
She said: "It is the first time I've been on a protest and I've come in on my day off. I've worked for the NHS for 30 years and it is something I feel very strongly about."
Unison branch secretary John Campbell was pleased with the turnout and said it reflected the mood of workers."People are angry about the lack of consultation and the increase in the day nursery charges - people are up in arms about it," he said. "The Trust has to save £90 million in the next three years and it is the staff who are being picked on."
Staff are also unhappy that, even if they decide to pay and are awarded a permit, they will not be guaranteed a parking space in the hospital grounds.
Lee Radforth, who works in the respiratory department, said he spends 30 minutes driving to work, but a bus from his home in Deepcar would take an hour-and-a-half each way.
A spokeswoman for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the city's adult hospitals, said: "This is about treating all our staff equally and harmonising parking charges across hospitals in the city. Staff working at the Royal Hallamshire and Jessop Wing hospitals have paid for their parking permits for a number of years. We are now introducing charges for staff at the Northern General and Weston Park hospitals to ensure staff working at all the hospital sites pay the same rates.
"We will be working closely with our staff organisations to ensure these changes are implemented as sensibly and fairly as possible."
The Trust is also looking at car-sharing schemes and incentives for cyclists.She said the staff nursery had been running at a loss and that it was not thought right NHS money was used to support staff services. She said the nursery will continue to operate on a not-for-profit basis.
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