I am a nurse, and my colleagues and I are constantly receiving parking tickets for parking in the staff carpark. Despite our attempts to apply for parking permits, we have been refused. The cost of a permit is over £500 a year - an amount that would be deducted from our wages which are already significantly below inflation. This situation is not unique to us but affects thousands of NHS staff across the country.

NHS staff work tirelessly to provide care and support for patients, often working long hours under stressful conditions. It's unjust that on top of this demanding job, we also have to contend with the additional financial burden and stress of paying expensive parking fees or risk getting fined. In addition, patients attending appointments and visitors visiting loved ones are charged extortionate fees for parking and often have no other choice but to pay in order to receive medical treatment or support friends and relatives who are receiving care. The private companies who are managing these carparks are sending letters to those who cannot afford the fine threatening to take them to court.

According to Unison (2019), one in ten health workers has received a parking fine while at work. This is not only unfair but also demoralizing for those who dedicate their lives to helping others.

We call upon hospital managers, local authorities, and the Government to grant free car park access within hospital grounds for all NHS staff as recognition of their invaluable service. Please sign this petition if you believe that those who care for us should not be penalized with unnecessary costs such as these.