Union anger as staff at Wolverhampton New Cross and Walsall Manor Hospital will have to pay up to £360 for parking
Staff at two hospitals in the West Midlands have been told they will have to pay up to £360 a year for car parking charges as part of a scheme to cut costs.
From next month, full-time staff - defined as those who work more than 22.6 hours a week - at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton and Walsall Manor Hospital will be required to pay £30 a month if they want to park at work.
For part-time staff, the rate will be £18 a month.
Ollie Hopkins, of public sector union Unison, branded the move a 'cash grab'.
Joe Chadwick-Bell, chief executive of the Royal Wolverhampton and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trusts, said the decision had been taken reluctantly in the face of difficult financial circumstances.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision to take as we appreciate there is still a cost of living crisis and things remain tough for many of the families and communities who work in our organisations and use our services," she said.
"We have committed to the prices above remaining in place until March 2027.
“The trust has avoided reintroducing charges for as long as possible, however the financial challenge the trust has means that we can no longer support free parking.
"We are sorry to have to do so from November, but we must ensure our funds are spent on patient care as a priority."
Unison regional organiser Mr Hopkins said parking should be free for hospital staff, given that poor public transport in the area meant many workers had no alternative but to drive to work.
“Bringing these charges in with little warning is unfair and feels like nothing more than a cash grab," he said.
"Hitting employees, some earning barely more than minimum wage, with a fee to come to work is insulting.
"Many workers will no doubt consider looking for jobs elsewhere, which will do nothing for morale or the staffing crisis in the NHS.”
Staff working permanent night shifts, starting after 7.30pm and ending before 8am will be exempt from the charges, as will staff who held disabled blue badges.
Mrs Chadwick-Bell said free parking was introduced with the support of government funding during the coronavirus pandemic, but that support ended in 2022.
“Parking spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis and we encourage staff to use public transport or car share to reduce demand and support our sustainability ambitions,” she added.
