(sorry it's long) I can ramble
Don't just think doctors and nurses - add radiologist, midwives, physios, pharmacists, social workers, mental health workers, morticians, engineers, security, maintenance staff - right down the line to the vital porters, and the lowly cleaners, kitchen staff (few and far between these days), volunteers and loads more staff inbetween pay to park.
I worked in the NHS 25+ yrs - both before and after the car parking charges arrived. I remember before the charges how shoppers parked in one hospital's car park then caught the bus to town to shop all day. It's things like that that helped pave the way for parking charges being brought in. The hospital car parks were full of shoppers parking.
Staff working elsewhere in other occupations pay to park every day in car parks. What's the difference?
I had a staff parking permit and the charges were taken monthly out of my wages.
For many NHS workers, it's
not being charged to park per se, it's having already payed in advance out of our wages and then arriving for work to find no spaces because selfish, thoughtless, lazy twits are parked in our staff areas instead of the designated areas for pt's.
Which leads to -
Time wasted trying to find somewhere else and the expense of paying again.
Having to risk getting fined for parking in inappropriate areas either inside our outside the premises so as not to be late for hand overs.
Late for shifts, arriving stressed out only to be greeted by pt's moaning and groaning about having to wait too long to be seen. Slap in the face or what?
The final straw can be finding they've been clamped and have to pay to be unclamped.
Thousands of staff, not just one or two, go through this every day.
(Yes, I know what I'm talking about).
.......
Random thoughts and info ....
Pre car, we paid bus fares to get to work. Or paid to take the train. Or cycled or went on motorbikes. Some walked miles in all weathers and didn't care. We all did it and it wasn't a problem before cars took over our lives.
Do folk begrudge the multistorey car park fees to go on their shopping sprees/nights out for a meal, theatre, cinema?
Do they begrudge paying for parking at the seaside for a day out?
Do they begrudge paying hundreds of pounds to park their car in those airport parking places for weeks when they go off on their jollies?
Perhaps, but still willingly pay.
And there are no qualms forking out for expensive cars/technology or anything else.
Yet some begrudge relatively measly car parking charges on hospital premises which deals with the most important thing in our lives - health. Go figure.
If you're finding it difficult to fork out a few quid for parking (and it's worth remembering different Hospital Trusts in England and different hospitals in the same Trusts charge different rates if you're away from your own area) -
Free car parking for those with greatest need: (dated 2022 but still current):
NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts
There are certain concessions available for some. Charges/fares could be reimbursed for some.
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)
