Dejected hospital workers in Nottingham say they feel like they are being 'kicked in the teeth' by both bosses and the public as they continue to be forced to park on the street. More staff at City Hospital have spoken to Nottinghamshire Live about their parking frustration since charges were reintroduced by Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH).
Some NHS workers, who were allowed to park for free throughout the pandemic, have been left waiting for years for a parking permit, which is the only way they can park onsite. As a result hospital staff have been parking on residential streets surrounding City Hospital during their shifts, leading to locals putting out their bins in protest on one street in particular.
One such disgruntled worker, healthcare assistant Jillian Whiting, said she had little other options after applying to NUH for a permit in 2019 and "consistently hearing nothing back". "It's just so unfair," said the Carlton 53-year-old.
Read more: Nottingham hospital worker 'stressed and tired' due to five-year wait for parking permit
"It's really stressful, I've been thinking do I need to move jobs? Is there anything else they're going to do? Or is it something we've got to get used to? I don't want to do this in the winter when it's dark nights."
Ms Whiting got a lift from her daughter on the day parking charges were reintroduced, but was left unable to quickly get to her partner after she was told he had been rushed to Queen's Medical Centre after an accident. "I swore blind I would never come to work without my car again," she said.
Martine Proctor, an auxiliary nurse from Arnold, said the reintroduction of car park charges left her with no choice but to relocate to City Hospital from QMC, where she also parks on the street. "I had to leave my team of over five years," said the 53-year-old.
She said her manager had put her forward for a permit, but heard nothing back. "They're not just my team, they're my family. It's very upsetting. You become more than colleagues, you become a unit," said Ms Proctor.
Referencing protesting members of the public, she said: "I feel we are being kicked in the teeth because two years ago we were heroes. I don't think they understand we are not allowed to park there. It's ridiculous.
"It's soul destroying, we've been kicked in the teeth by NUH and the public as well." Both workers said colleagues had complained of scratches appearing on their cars after parking them on residential streets.
"I'm hearing from other colleagues who have had this done," said Ms Whiting. "When I go back to my car I'm getting quite wary in case someone comes out really upset because I'm parking there. I think it's wrong that they took it away from us because where would the hospital be without us workers there?"
Parking fees were waived for NHS workers across the country at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic before the government stopped the scheme from April 1. NUH reintroduced the charges at the end of June. The trust has been approached for comment.
Read next:
- Nottingham hospital worker 'stressed and tired' due to five-year wait for parking permit
- Neighbours blockade street with wheelie bins to tackle 'ridiculous' Nottingham hospital parking
- Nottingham hospital trust accused of 'cash grab' from NHS workers over parking ordeal
- Nottingham hospital nurses 'stressed' and ready to leave jobs over parking nightmare
- Read more health stories from across Nottinghamshire
