Members of staff at James Cook University Hospital held a protest on Marton Road earlier this month in response to plans to introduce ParkingEye within the hospital car parks.
On Tuesday 8 April, backlash against the planned implementation of an automatic numberplate recognition system at already-inadequate hospital parking spaces sparked into protest, as South Tees NHS Foundation Trust continued the system’s introduction – in spite of a 10,000 strong petition against it.
Respondents to a survey conducted by the Society of Radiographers for staff at James Cook University Hospital (JCUH) and Friarage Hospital called the system a “slap in the face to hardworking staff”.
'Scrambling' for space
A spokesperson for UNISON said members of the union took part in the protest because they are unhappy that the trust is planning to introduce this system without any consultation.
They said: "There is already a lack of parking across both sites, with staff and patients sometimes queueing for up to an hour trying to park – something which, under the new system, could result in a fine."
ParkingEye has previously received backlash for aggressive debt collection, excessive fines, and claims it will leave staff “scrambling” for spaces, when parking is already inadequate.
'A slap in the face'
A survey run by the SoR explored the potential impact of the system, receiving feedback from 101 members of JCUH and Friarage Hospital.
One respondent said: “I am concerned about ParkingEye being implemented, as there are an insufficient number of staff car parking spaces. I also resent being asked to pay £41 a month parking when the car parks are poorly maintained (pot holes, extensive flooding) with no security. Staff have been followed on an evening. In short, the recent proposals are a slap in the face to hard working staff.”
The survey found that staff’s biggest concerns about parking are the lack of available spaces (52.5 per cent) and parking costs (36.6 per cent).
Almost three quarters of respondents (73.3 per cent) were strongly opposed to Parking Eye, with primary concerns including: increased financial burden on staff (81.2 per cent); negative impact on patients/visitors (72.3 per cent); risk of unfair fines and enforcement (85.1 per cent); difficulty in registering vehicles correctly (46.5 per cent); parking fines (77.2 per cent); appeals process might be unclear or unfair (64.4 per cent).
Late for shifts or receiving fines
Another respondent explained: “There is not an appropriate amount of spaces for staff or visitors, we pay to park and are not guaranteed a parking space resulting in sometimes being late for shifts or receiving fines for having to leave our cars in non-designated spaces.”
Concern over time limits and charges introduced by ParkingEye were also high, with 73.3 per cent claiming it would create significant difficulty in parking for work and appointments.
Last month (March 31), the trust also decided to implement parking tariffs based on staff banding – but as of 16 April, this decision has been delayed.
A spokesperson for the trust said: “Due to the feedback received, we have reflected on this decision and now acknowledge that this is not in line with the current car parking policy that applies to South Tees permit holders only and we have taken the decision to temporarily suspend the implementation of the revised tariffs across both trusts.”
Current staff car parking tariffs will remain in place at the current rates for permit holders until 1 May 2025 (not 1 April, as previously briefed).
'Deal with it when it comes to it'
Survey respondents, however, emphasised that NHS staff should either be exempt from or receive discounts for parking costs (88.1 per cent), as should patients with appointments (58.4 per cent) and visitors (24.8 per cent).
One staff member added: “ParkingEye shouldn't come into place when there is no parking availability for staff and patients. Moreover, we are now expected to travel cross site but no parking facilities are made to accommodate this. This shouldn't take place until more safe and protected car parking facilities are made than expecting staff to just ‘deal with it when it comes to it’.”
In total, 91.1 per cent of respondents said they would support a campaign to remove or reduce ParkingEye enforcement for staff and hospital visitors.
(Image: Stock image of a car park from above, by Thatree Thitivongvaroon via GettyImages)