Unite, a major health union, revealed that some of its lowest-paid members are spending up to £40 per week on parking fees. Patients have reported being late for appointments and having visits with loved ones cut short due to parking problems.
While car parking charges at health sites are set to be abolished from May next year, there are concerns that the system will be abused by the public, and no plans exist to build additional car parks, except at two hospitals.
The move to scrap charges is expected to result in a loss of about £10 million per year in revenue for the health budget. Some staff members have also been waiting for years for staff parking permits, while others are forced to use public car parks.
The shortage of spaces is a significant issue, and some staff have to pay to use public spaces to get to work on time. The lack of car parking spaces is also affecting patients and visitors, with many reporting difficulties in finding parking spaces and having their visits cut short due to parking issues.