Gareth Thomas MP calls to extend free parking for NHS staff as national concession introduced during the lockdown ends.

Health and Social Care workers granted free parking while on duty in March of 2020 have been stripped of free parking as of June 21. The scrapped hospital charges were a benefit to staff at Northwick Park during the pandemic.

It comes as burnout among NHS staff is prompting some to quit, due to stressful demands of the job. According to research from the King’s Fund health thinktank, NHS staff are 50% more likely than the general working population to experience high levels of work-related stress, which has exacerbated during the pandemic.

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West said:

“At a time when we are seeing enormous levels of burnout in the workforce and an effective real-terms salary cut – it is completely the wrong move by the Government to scrap free parking for NHS and care staff from 21st June.”

The Harrow West MP is asking the public to join his campaign and sign the petition which calls on the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock to extend free parking for NHS and social care staff.

In the Commons earlier this month, Mr Hancock said free hospital parking was “one of
the many, many things we’ve put in place to support staff”.

But Shadow Health secretary Jon Ashworth said: “That was not a commitment to
extend the relief of hospital car parking charges beyond the pandemic.”

Rachel Harrison, of the GMB Union, said: “Now many trusts are sneakily reintroducing charges that hit our health workers in their already ravaged wages.”

GMB demands free car parking be extended to not only cover the entire period of the
pandemic, but that it also continues.”

Rehana Azam, GMB Trade Union National Secretary said:

“The government need to back down and continue with the free parking we secured
at the start of the pandemic. If they don’t, they risk stirring up an already
demoralised workforce who will want to respond strongly to resist further cuts to their
pay, terms, and conditions.”

Gareth’s petition can be found here:

Extend Free Parking for NHS Staff – Gareth Thomas MP

***ENDS***

Notes to Editors:
GMB Union comment: https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/government-u-turn-freeparking-nhs-and-social-care-workers-beyond-belief

For more information please contact:
Rashmi Kalubowila 07908959205 – Gareth Thomas MP’s office