Unions' rail against end of free parking for NHS hospital staff
Unions’ rail against end of free parking for NHS hospital staff – almost two years after measure was introduced to help in fight against Covid pandemic
- Sajid Javid announced yesterday that Government’s free parking policy will end
- In March 2020, Government said it would cover cost of parking for hospital staff
- But Mr Javid announced the parking policy will end on Friday, after two years
- It comes as Government announced Covid tests will remain free for NHS staff
Union chiefs have railed against plans to end free hospital parking for NHS staff, warning healthcare workers may quit in response.
NHS staff working at hospitals have been given a two-year parking charge reprieve during the Covid pandemic.
The policy was introduced in March 2020 as a temporary perk for health staff working at a time of huge influx of Covid cases, travel disruption due to lockdowns and increased pressure on the NHS.
But in a move that has riled union chiefs, Health Secretary Sajid Javid last night revealed that the benefit will end on Friday.
Union bosses have labelled the move a ‘sick joke’ and warned staff could quit the NHS as a result.
Commenting on the announcement, Unison’s head of health, Sara Gorton, said: ‘This is no way for the NHS to hang on to staff in the current job market.
‘Parking charges will add hundreds of pounds to the massive cost pressures already facing health staff and reduce their morale even further.
Union chiefs have railed against plans to end free parking for NHS hospital staff, warning health care workers may quit the service in response
in a move that has riled union chiefs, Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured right) last night revealed that the benefit is set to end on Friday. Union bosses (pictured left: General Secretary of TUC Frances O’Grady) have labelled the move a ‘sick joke’. And they have warned staff could quit the NHS as a result.
‘Those already on the brink of leaving the NHS may well see this as the final straw and head for the exit, just as the service needs experienced staff the most.’
Free lateral flow tests will be scrapped for EVERYONE in England except frontline health and care home staff from Friday — but vulnerable patients with Covid-like symptoms will be eligible
Free lateral flow tests will be scrapped for everyone except NHS workers, care home staff and vulnerable patients from Friday in England, ministers announced tonight.
The general public will be told there is no need to take a test even if they are symptomatic, though they will be advised to isolate until they feel better.
Rapid Covid tests are being massively scaled back on April 1 as part of the final phase of the Government’s ‘living with Covid’ strategy.
Asymptomatic tests will only be free for frontline NHS, social care and hospice staff during ‘periods of high prevalence’.
Lateral flows will also be funded for patients with Covid-like symptoms in hospital or who are eligible for antivirals because they have an underlying health conditions.
People in ‘high risk settings’ will also be eligible for free tests if they are symptomatic, including prison officers or staff in homeless shelters.
But routine tests for care home and hospice residents will no longer continue and will only be provided in the event of an outbreak or a resident being admitted.
And visitors to hospitals and social care settings will ‘no longer be required to take a test’ upon arrival.
Meanwhile, Rachel Harrison, national officer for the GMB union, also hit out at the move.
She said: ‘Charging the NHS staff who’ve risked their lives during the pandemic to park at work is a sick joke.
‘After the years of Tory cuts NHS trusts are struggling, we know. But scrabbling the money back off hard up workers is not the answer.
‘The Government must now legislate for free hospital staff parking once and for all.’
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady added: ‘Our amazing NHS key workers put their lives on the line to get us through this pandemic.
‘Scrapping free car parking in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is a lousy way to repay that service.
‘The Government should be giving health staff a proper pay rise – not adding to their bills.
‘And it should be funding our NHS properly so that hospitals don’t have to rely on car parks for income.’
It comes after Health Minister Sajid Javid said that the free parking policy would end on Friday.
In an update on Covid-19, Mr Javid wrote: ‘Free parking in hospital car parks for NHS staff introduced during the pandemic will also come to an end on 31 March.
‘However, over 93 per cent of NHS trusts that charge for car parking have implemented free parking for those in greatest need, including NHS staff working overnight.’
He added: ‘On behalf of the Government, I would like to record my thanks to everyone who has worked tirelessly to keep people safe over the last two years and whose efforts have enabled us to move to the next stage of the Covid-19 response.’
The parking charge was introduced in March 2020, at a point when NHS staff faced a huge influx of Covid cases and deaths. Travel was also disrupted, with public transport in some areas dramatically scaled back during lockdowns.
On March 25, 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care released a statement which said: ‘The Government will cover the costs of providing free car parking to NHS staff working in hospitals during this unprecedented time.
The parking charge was introduced in March 2020, at a point when NHS staff faced a huge influx of Covid cases and deaths. A person walks past images of National Health Service (NHS) workers displayed on hoardings outside a temporary field hospital at St George’s Hospital. Library image
‘It comes as the Local Government Secretary has agreed local councils will also offer free car parking to all NHS workers and social care staff during the coronavirus outbreak.
Britain’s daily Covid cases fall again: Infections drop 15% in a week amid testing slow down – as hospital admissions and deaths continue to creep upwards
Daily Covid cases in the UK continued to fall again today as another 80,930 Britons tested positive — but hospital admissions and deaths continue to steadily increase.
Yesterday’s case figure marks a 14.5 per cent drop compared to the tally last week in a growing sign that Britain could be past its latest peak. It comes after there was a 5 per cent fall in cases over the weekend.
However, deaths have continued to rise with 303 reported yesterday, a rise of 21.2 per cent on last week. The number of infected people admitted to hospital is also on the up with 2,150 recorded on March 25 — the latest day UK-wide data is available for. This is a 14.4 per cent rise compared to the figure for March 18.
Due to the lag in the time it takes for a patient to fall ill enough with Covid to need hospital care, the latest figures are a reflection of the infections that occurred weeks ago.
NHS data suggests more than half of Covid ‘patients’ are not primarily there for the coronavirus, meaning the rise in hospital pressure may be a reflection of rising cases rather than a surge in severe disease.
The decreasing case numbers — seemingly partly driven by a downturn in swabs being carried out — comes just days before the end of free lateral flow and PCR tests in England. The tests will remain available in Scotland until May and in Wales until the end of June.
Experts have repeatedly called on ministers not to end the universal swabbing offer, warning it will leave them in the dark over major outbreaks in parts of the country.
‘In the face of this global pandemic it is essential NHS and social care staff are able to carry out their vital work without worrying about paying for car parking.
‘Government is rightly committing to providing the financial backing NHS Trusts need to make this a reality in hospitals for the duration of this viral outbreak.’
The Government also introduced a scheme with the Local Government Association meaning local councils in England would voluntarily offer free car parking to all NHS workers, social care staff and NHS volunteer responders.
But that scheme was withdrawn in June last year. Most local authorities stopped accepting the paper parking passes following the announcement.
Meanwhile, the Government continued its scheme to allow NHS staff to receive free parking in hospital car parks. However, with the Government now pushing its ‘living with Covid’ strategy, the policy will now be withdraw.
This is despite a recent rise in Covid cases, hospitalisations and Covid-related deaths.
The move will not impact on free parking for NHS staff on night shifts. Under current rules, which will remain unchanged, staff working night shifts will continue to receive free parking for the duration of their shift.
It comes as free lateral flow tests will be scrapped for everyone except NHS workers, care home staff and vulnerable patients from Friday in England.
The general public will be told there is no need to take a test even if they are symptomatic, though they will be advised to isolate until they feel better.
Rapid Covid tests are being massively scaled back on April 1 as part of the final phase of the Government’s ‘living with Covid’ strategy.
Asymptomatic tests will only be free for frontline NHS, social care and hospice staff during ‘periods of high prevalence’.
Lateral flows will also be funded for patients with Covid-like symptoms in hospital or who are eligible for antivirals because they have an underlying health conditions.
People in ‘high risk settings’ will also be eligible for free tests if they are symptomatic, including prison officers or staff in homeless shelters.
But routine tests for care home and hospice residents will no longer continue and will only be provided in the event of an outbreak or a resident being admitted.
And visitors to hospitals and social care settings will ‘no longer be required to take a test’ upon arrival.
Free lateral flow tests for all Britons are set to be scrapped in England on Friday for the vast majority of people
Several scientists have expressed concern about the timing of the move, with cases quite high. But there are signs the latest surge may have already peaked
Mr Javid said: ‘Thanks to our plan to tackle Covid we are leading the way in learning to live with the virus.
‘We have made enormous progress but will keep the ability to respond to future threats including potential variants.
‘Vaccines remain our best defence and we are now offering spring boosters to the elderly, care home residents and the most vulnerable – please come forward to protect yourself, your family, and your community.’
More details about exactly who will be eligible for tests is to be set out this Friday, the Department of Health said.
It stressed ministers have a stockpile of lateral flow tests that it can roll out en masse again if a new variant of concern emerges.
For the rest of the public, the advice is to ‘try to’ stay home and avoid contact with others for five days if they have a high temperature or ‘feel unwell’.
Those who are positive, or have symptoms, and need to leave home will be urged to wear masks, avoid crowded places and stay away from people with weakened immune systems.
The law to self-isolate after a positive test expired on February 24 in England.
Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, warned the pandemic was not over.
She said: As we learn to live with Covid, we are focusing our testing provision on those at higher risk of serious outcomes from the virus, while encouraging people to keep following simple steps to help keep themselves and others safe.
‘The pandemic is not over and how the virus will develop over time remains uncertain.
‘Covid still poses a real risk to many of us, particularly with case rates and hospitalisations on the rise.
‘That is why it is sensible to wear a mask in enclosed spaces, keep indoor spaces ventilated and stay away from others if you have any symptoms of a respiratory illness, including Covid.’
From 1 April, those working in adult social care services will also continue to receive free personal protective equipment (PPE).
The quarantine time of entire care homes after a Covid case is also being shortened from 14 to 10 days.
Britain’s scramble for the last remaining free supplies of lateral flow tests has seen sales of the rapid devices soar five-fold in a week at High Street pharmacies.
LloydsPharmacy is already selling the Covid tests, despite free ones being available on the Government’s website until Friday.
But scores of Britons have complained about being unable to get hold of any kits through the official ordering channel over the past fortnight.
Struggles accessing the devices — which formed a major part of the UK’s Covid-fighting strategy — have allowed major retailers to cash in.
LloydsPharmacy told MailOnline sales in the week ending March 28 were 400 per cent up on the previous seven-day spell.
It also announced it was slashing the price of lateral flows, reducing the price of a pack of five rapid swabs by 20p to £9.29 — or £1.86 each — making it the cheapest on the market.
A single test sold on its own from the company will cost people £1.89, compared to £1.99 at rival Superdrug and £2 at Boots.
Meanwhile Boots is selling its five-packs for £9.80 and Superdrug is offering them for £9.79.
Meanwhile, free parking for NHS staff working in hospitals in England will end on Friday, the Health Secretary said.
Parking fees were waived during the Covid-19 pandemic, but Mr Javid said that the benefit would end on Friday.
High street pharmacists today continued their war of prices ahead of free lateral tests being scrapped from next week. Graphic shows: Different price options at Boots, Superdrug and LloydsPharmacy
Lateral flow tests will be rationed to the elderly and vulnerable people as part of the final stage of No10’s living with Covid strategy — leading to fears people have been stockpiling the remainder of the free swabs in the meantime. Users have been unable to order tests on the Government’s site today
In a written statement, he said: ‘Free parking in hospital car parks for NHS staff introduced during the pandemic will also come to an end on 31 March.
‘However, over 93% of NHS trusts that charge for car parking have implemented free parking for those in greatest need, including NHS staff working overnight.’
He added: ‘On behalf of the Government, I would like to record my thanks to everyone who has worked tirelessly to keep people safe over the last two years and whose efforts have enabled us to move to the next stage of the Covid-19 response.’
Rachel Harrison, national officer for the GMB union, told the PA news agency: ‘Charging the NHS staff who’ve risked their lives during the pandemic to park at work is a sick joke.
‘After the years of Tory cuts NHS trusts are struggling, we know.
‘But scrabbling the money back off hard up workers is not the answer.
‘The Government must now legislate for free hospital staff parking once and for all.’
The Department of Health and Social Care said that the perk was ‘temporary’ and introduced in July 2020 ‘for the duration of the pandemic’.
It said that the scheme had cost around £130 million over the past two years.
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