Parking fine hits hospital staff

Friday 23rd March 2007, 7:59PM GMT.

health-hospitalsw.jpgA total of 25 Walsall Manor Hospital workers, including doctors, received parking tickets for leaving their vehicles in spots earmarked for visitors.

But health bosses said today they had waived the fees after appeals.

Angry staff returned to Pleck Road car park after their shifts to find they had been issued with a £15 fine.

They said they were told if it was not paid within two weeks the bill would double.

But hospital spokeswoman Sarah Faulkner said those who appealed had had their fine cancelled.

Pleck Road was set aside for patients and visitors only when car parking was reviewed last year.

Staff are allowed to use the car park until 2pm, when hospital visiting hours start, but then they must leave their space.

Annual parking charges cost staff £60 or £120.

A relative of a Manor employee said: “I want to highlight the frustration and despair felt by staff regarding parking problems. Their jobs are hard enough without being able to get a space for which they have already paid.”


  1. 1
    Rob H

    Enough is enough.

    The NHS is free at point of use and should be free to park there. After all buses dont run all the time and very infrequently at the weekend.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Jim of Bearwood

    Well the councillors have bought in parking charges for workers in NHS hospitals as well as for visitors, just how low can these people get, try writing to the council and asking them how much the Primary Care Trust pay for their parking charges, ask them if they get theirs free, ask your Council how much your councillors pay for their car parking charges when they are on council business, and if they don’t pay when they are working , why should nurses, doctors, office staff etc.

    I live in Sandwell and because of the cost of parking charges and because I was unemployed at the time, I was unable to visit my mother who was 83 and who was dying from cancer, the agony it caused me was indescribable.

    But lets look at another part of this problem , why is it that these same councillors who believe that it is right that we should all pay to park our vehicles in Sandwell and Walsall, then have free parking provided for their own vehicles on council property ?

    Remember people it’s the local elections soon, remember people your vote could stop these dictators in their tracks, they can only pile on these charges if you again elect these hypocrites into office.

    Vote these people out and stop these people abusing the electorate.

    Jim, Abused Elector in Sandwell.

    Report abuse



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