DAUK and NHS staff advocacy groups are calling on the Government to reverse its decision to scrap universal free hospital parking for health service staff after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health has said that the scheme to fund fees incurred by NHS staff in privately run hospital car parks — first introduced as the UK lockdown began on March 25 — cannot “continue indefinitely”, and that workers will have to begin to pay for parking again in all but “certain circumstances”.
No certain timeline for the changes has been given.
The move has prompted an angry backlash.
Dr Dolin Bhagawati ,from grassroots medic campaign group Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK), told the Standard: “The Doctors’ Association UK are appalled by the decision to charge NHS staff for parking at their place of work. Such actions demonstrate a casual amnesia by the Government to the commitment and sacrifice of NHS staff.
“The combination of this decision, refusal to countenance pay rises for NHS staff, and the Prime Minister’s comments blaming care homes for Covid-19 deaths shows breathtaking disregard and derision for our NHS and care staff.
“We would strongly urge the reconsideration of this decision.”
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