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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

NHS parking dilemma

166 replies

Buniadot · 21/01/2024 21:11

Let me preface this that I am grateful to all the NHS workers for their hard work and dedication to their job.

I've wanted to start this thread as I've recently seen numerous debates about this on social media. Oftentimes someone's complaining that NHS workers are parking their cars on residential streets where parking is available at the trust. The post usually has a plethora of comments ranging from those agreeing it's a nuisance to those saying it's reasonable.

I have made a few observations myself, I am aware that they may make me sound like an AH but they seem the most logical to me.

  • if parking is available at the workplace then it should be used (whether free or not)
  • to address expensive parking, almost all workplaces don't offer free parking, doesn't matter what industry. A lot of workers aside from NHS, pay for parking and live.
  • to address antisocial hours, as above, there are other industries that won't necessarily have free parking and have to pay for it
  • the NHS offers good job stability in this day and age (always understaffed so not much chance of losing your job, they need you), fantastic pension, the pay isn't great but also not out of the norm, discounts for on site nurseries etc, overall don't the benefits outweigh the cost of parking?
  • to clarify, I do understand if there's no parking available then absolutely look for an alternative but I find it cheeky to use residential roads when there's ample parking available at some trusts.
  • I can see why people get frustrated with there being no space near their house because of people that work. Now before people say 'buy a house with a drive' it's sometimes not possible, some get house by council and are grateful for what they have, or some that own their house may not be able to afford one with a driveway. It's cheaper to pay for parking at your workplace thank buy a house with a driveway.

So, AITA for thinking that being an NHS worker doesn't exempt you from paying for parking and you should be more considerate to residents in the area?

I hope we can all have a discussion about your views.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 22:59

@innerdesign to each their own

OP posts:
Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:00

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 21/01/2024 22:34

Hopelessly naive, but I genuinely think that all parking should be free.

The Trafford Centre manage it. Brent Cross manage it. Yet somehow when I park in town it's £8 for 3 hours?!

Liverpool Women's Hospital used to be £2 on exit, so affordable even if they were there for days. Now it's a 'normal' hourly rate. Why can't it be standardised across all sites to be like this?

Aintree hospital had free parking during Covid. Now it's back to normal.

(some of that possibly irrelevant but just wanted to say that it should ALL be free!)

Brent Cross has fantastic parking, I agree. And in an ideal world I'd love free parking everywhere. It's a shame that's not possible.

OP posts:
MolkosTeenageAngst · 21/01/2024 23:01

If parking is an issue on a street residents should campaign for the council to make it permit only. If that’s not the case then anybody is reasonable to park there for any reason, house prices will reflect the fact the houses don’t include parking. If free residential parking is available within walking distance of course most people aren’t going to pay to park in an expensive private car park. I wouldn’t want to pay parking at work, I’m a teacher and parking in all of my workplaces has always been free. Paying to park at work is also an unfair system where those on low wages end up having to pay a far bigger chunk of their salary to park vs those on high salaries, if you’re a porter or cleaner or canteen worker on little more than minimum wage paying parking fees every day is going to be far more significant than if you’re a top level consultant on a 6 figure salary.

Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:03

EddieHowesShithousingMags · 21/01/2024 22:37

We’re not allowed to park on-site at our city centre hospital. Being caught parking on site means potential disciplinary action. So that’s nice.

That's harsh, are there good transport links in the area? Regardless I can't see how they can justify this policy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:04

innerdesign · 21/01/2024 22:38

@Buniadot Never said NHS specific are the problem.

You might want to check your thread title and OP...

Probably should have made myself clearer. For that I do apologise, I think it's a problem across many industries. The thread was inspired by posts about NHS workers in particular.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:06

Itsbeginingtolookalotlikexmas · 21/01/2024 22:45

I am NHS staff and park on the road. We have a car park but I’d need to pay and it never has spots. I drive out a few times a day so even if I got to the clinic early I’d still lose my spot when I left to go on a visit. The street I park on has drives and I never block a drive or park inconsiderately, however, the local residents hate us. We hide our NHS badges when we park. I’ve been shouted at a few times.

That's antisocial behaviour and you absolutely shouldn't get the abuse. I think my trust is a unicorn trust looking as all comments so far. Employers should also cover your expenses (ie parking) when travelling between sites.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:10

@Saschka I'm glad the enforcement is working well, if a bit too eager from your example, it's really a shame that there's still too many cars. At my previous rental we had a limit of 2 cars per household which seemed to work well. Seems the parking situation everywhere is just not moving with the times.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:13

@MyGooseisTotallyLoose I seem to be very fortunate that there are good parking options wherever I go, the only time I'd stay in a residential road is visiting family but yet again that is with a paid for visitor permit.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:15

overthehill23 · 21/01/2024 22:59

I think if paying for parking it should be the same all over the NHS. I see a person above says there trust is £1.50 a day or £20 a month fair. At my trust if you can't get a parking permit- massive list only about 50% I would say have one. It's £10 a day which is a lot

Absolutely correct, one institution and so many different rules and policies. One PP mentioned theyd face disciplinary action for parking on site.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:17

MolkosTeenageAngst · 21/01/2024 23:01

If parking is an issue on a street residents should campaign for the council to make it permit only. If that’s not the case then anybody is reasonable to park there for any reason, house prices will reflect the fact the houses don’t include parking. If free residential parking is available within walking distance of course most people aren’t going to pay to park in an expensive private car park. I wouldn’t want to pay parking at work, I’m a teacher and parking in all of my workplaces has always been free. Paying to park at work is also an unfair system where those on low wages end up having to pay a far bigger chunk of their salary to park vs those on high salaries, if you’re a porter or cleaner or canteen worker on little more than minimum wage paying parking fees every day is going to be far more significant than if you’re a top level consultant on a 6 figure salary.

One PP mentioned that their parking charges are based on their salary band, possibly a good solution?
We are in the process of trying to introduce permits, it does take time unfortunately.

OP posts:
BungleandGeorge · 21/01/2024 23:17

It’s all irrelevant. If there no parking restrictions on the road anyone can park there. You don’t have any special privileges if you live on the road, you’re paying the same for the use of the road as the rest of the population. Perhaps get rid of your car or pay to park yourself?

Original poster
Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:20

BungleandGeorge · 21/01/2024 23:17

It’s all irrelevant. If there no parking restrictions on the road anyone can park there. You don’t have any special privileges if you live on the road, you’re paying the same for the use of the road as the rest of the population. Perhaps get rid of your car or pay to park yourself?

I do pay, at work. And we're in the process of advocating for parking permits which I'm more than happy to pay for.

OP posts:
EddieHowesShithousingMags · 21/01/2024 23:30

Buniadot · 21/01/2024 23:03

That's harsh, are there good transport links in the area? Regardless I can't see how they can justify this policy.

Show quote history

Reasonable links in that it’s a city centre hospital. But it serves a pretty rural community and many of the staff just don’t have the option of getting the bus or train. And tbh, after a 13 hour shift I want to get in my own car and drive straight to my own house and get into my own bed because in less than 11 hours I have to be back on shift. And when I go to work. I don’t want to get up an hour earlier to take the only bus which serves several other villages and takes 50+ minutes to do a 20 minute drive, only comes once an hour and takes me to the bus station in the centre of town which is still a 15 minute walk away.

If I can drive to and from work and park in your street then you can bet I will. I get it’s inconvenient for you. But that’s not my problem.

Zwicky · 21/01/2024 23:35

You've been lucky to not have to pay for parking at work, I wish that was the case across board and there were adequate car parks in workplaces. Doesn't change the fact that not everyone can afford to live in a house with a driveway, or they live close to the city centre because they work there and can walk to work. So they actually planned out how they would commute

A - I’m not “lucky”. I do pay for parking. Cheaper than public transport but I do pay. The parking isn’t “adequate” although I’m “lucky” enough to start at 7am so I do get a space.

B - I don’t have a house with a driveway. People park in my street too. Not sure why you think they don’t.

C - I couldn’t afford to live within about 5 miles of where I work. Towns are often quite expensive places to live. You can afford to live within walking distance of a hospital. Good for you.

D - I have planned how I commute. I drive.

TeenLifeMum · 21/01/2024 23:36

@overthehill23 £15 a day in my trust 🙈 salary sacrifice for 2 days a week is better but still £28 a month. We had a multi-storey built in addition to 2 other car parks… but now we have built on the 2 staff car parks so reduced parking by 300… and they can’t understand why staff morale is so low. On 1 April parking charges will also increase. Yay. We all feel very valued. (We’re not in a part of the country where public transport is an option - only retired people use them so timings are not for commuters).

TeenLifeMum · 21/01/2024 23:40

@Buniadot parking bands mean band 7 (me on 50k) pay the same as the execs on £100-200k. I’m glad the lower bands pay less but grouping all management together when salaries are so different is hardly fair. That said, I don’t mind paying but I dislike parking 20 minutes away. If my dc is ill I cannot get there with any speed… although, if they’re very very ill, I can walk upstairs and meet them in A&E 😂😬🙈

Starzinsky · 22/01/2024 00:07

Not many hospitals have enough parking, and some can be expensive even at staff rates. Some make staff do park and ride to prioritise on site parking for patients, which can be a challenge when you have nursery pick ups to rush to, easier to park locally. Lack of investment in staff facilities, it is a big problem nationally. Not many residential areas near hospitals have been turned into permit parking.

Georgeandzippyzoo · 22/01/2024 00:59

Snowydaysfaraway · 21/01/2024 21:17

A consultant I know has to park in the patient spaces as theirs is full. Not in an actual space as that's always full. So 6 or 7 days a week he gets a parking fine for using the path or double yellow lines.. Says it's an accepted part of the job now...

Ours has a new multi storey and the top level is for consultant level staff. It is never more than ¼ full. Staff pay for permits but it doesn't guarantee you a space. Nearby streets have permit times so peak times are just for residents.
There are nowhere near enough spaces (but not much they can do about it to be honest). If we have an appointment we go up to 60 mins early because it will take that long to repeatedly drive round hoping to find a space. Regularly we have to drop the patient off for them to go in alone while the other drives out to park further out and walk in.
I get really anxious if I have to drive in myself. A few weeks ago I got a call telling me my ds had been involved in a crash and was at a&e, thankfully I knew he wasn't badly injured but it took me 35mins to get parked once I arrived. Not sure what would happen if it had been a more serious accident!

DonnaBanana · 22/01/2024 02:04

Maybe if they hadn’t got rid of nurses quarters then more staff could live at the hospital during the week and simply walk. Having everyone living many miles away just causes so many journeys.

Howtonamechange · 22/01/2024 02:07

Absolutely you are unreasonable. I am nhs staff with the option of paying for parking or parking for free on a side street. Why should I pay for something that is free and is only a short walk away? If there are no restrictions then I am well within my legal rights to park wherever I want.
If the residents want permit holders only, then it is their job to lobby the council.

kisstheblarney · 22/01/2024 03:12

You're one of those residents, the ones that think they own the road as well as their house.

My car is taxed, insured and has an MOT!

I'll park wherever I like if it's legal, but if I knew your attitude was such, I would probably choose outside your house first.

MikeRafone · 22/01/2024 05:30

if you don’t want general public parking on your street, apply to council for permit parking & pay to park on your street.

If you want to park near your house without permit parking, get a driveway.

campaign for better public transport so there is less need for private car use with one person using a car with 4/5 seats, 3/4 of which are empty

disappearingfish · 22/01/2024 06:15

OP: let's make it more difficult and explain for NHS staff to get to work.

Also OP: why are the NHS waiting lists so long?

Willmafrockfit · 22/01/2024 06:19

how about when the staff car parks are full
there are charges being brought in on the residential streets now, how about that?
let people park in the residential areas so they can get to work, whoever their employer is

RegardingMary · 22/01/2024 06:36

Most hospitals have specific 'visitor' parking. As a member of staff you're not allowed to park there.

The cost of parking for a shift at my local hospital is over £15. It would cost me up to £75 a week to park there, if I was allowed.

I happily pay for a permit, however this does not guarantee me a space in the staff car park. So I have to go find alternative parking. I always park legally and safely. Yet in the past six months I've had my car keyed twice and my tyres slashed once. On one of the times one of the people who live on the street filmed me returning to my car and cry as i waited for someone to pick me up. Then posted it on a Facebook group as a warning to other hospital staff. I'd worked a 13 hour day then was humiliated for doing it.

Nobody is parking in front of your house to piss you off, or to cause shit. They're trying to go to work and do their job. How would you feel if that's how you were treat on your way to work. We're not saying we're heroes, or we deserve to park wherever, we don't even mind paying for parking. It's not about that. It's completely down to lack of space, lack of public transport that arrives on time, and rules in place that stop us parking in visitors parking.