During the pandemic, many people have been able to avoid the costs that were once associated with going into the office. NHS hospital staff have not had this luxury. Not only have they had to work one of the toughest possible jobs throughout the pandemic, but they have also had to keep up the regular commute that many of us may never return to.

A scheme was introduced in March 2020 that made parking at NHS hospitals in England free for staff. However, this free parking was only set to be a temporary measure and is due to end on Friday 1st April.

The move to end free parking has been heavily criticised by unions and campaigners.

The free parking scheme

Following a 2020 petition that rapidly garnered 400,000 signatures, the government promised to provide NHS trusts with the funds needed to offer free parking in hospital car parks for the duration of the pandemic. Some local authorities also agreed to provide free on-street parking and spots in council-owned car parks.

At the time of the scheme being introduced, petition-starter GP Anthony Gallagher hoped that the government would ‘do what is right’ and scrap parking charges for NHS staff permanently even after the ‘nightmare’ of covid has passed. Unfortunately, the scheme is now coming to an end amidst a cost of living crisis that is already having a major impact on households across the country.

Paying to (park at) work

A freedom of information request made by the GMB trade union revealed that, prior to the introduction of the scheme, staff were paying up to £1,300 a year to park at work. NHS staff were given a 3% pay rise in 2021, but the return of these high parking costs more than counteracts this additional pay.

With many staff already struggling to manage with low pay, the reintroduction of this considerable cost will hit those who can least afford it the hardest.

‘Rachel Harrison, national officer for the GMB union, described charging healthcare staff for parking as “a sick joke” after they “risked their lives during the pandemic”.’

Rachel Harrison is one of many voices calling for the government to legislate for permanently free parking for NHS staff. Campaigners are aware that trusts are struggling financially after years of cuts and the fallout of the pandemic, ‘but scrabbling the money back off hard-up workers is not the answer.’

The government ‘should be funding our NHS properly so that hospitals don’t have to rely on car parks for income,’ commented TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady. NHS staff have been placing their lives on the line for over two years now and adding to their bills amidst a cost of living crisis has been widely decried as a poor way to repay them for their hard work.

Delivering on promises?

One of the Conservative government’s 2019 manifesto promises was to make parking free for those in greatest need – including staff working night shifts. Sajid Javid commented that over 93% of NHS trusts that charge for parking have implemented this.

The free parking scheme cost around £130million over nearly two years, so the government is arguing that the end of the scheme will free up more funds to spend on parking for patients and visitors, helping deliver on that manifesto promise. However, punishing struggling workers should not be used as a method to secure additional funds for this effort.

All NHS hospital car parking charges were scrapped in Wales in 2018, making hospitals more easily accessible for patients, staff, and visitors. It is unlikely a similar scheme will emerge in England any time soon, but continuing free parking for staff would make a massive difference for workers who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and are already struggling to make ends meet.