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Hospitalworkers’ £1mparkingbill


FIGURES released by the local NHS reveal hospital staff paid more than £1million in parking fees and fines last year, which unions have described as a “run- ning sore of a scandal”,writes Jade Schopman. Medway,Maidstone&Tunbridge


Wells (MTW) and Dartford & Gravesham (DG) trusts collected in £1,078,006 fromNHSworkers park- ing across all their sites this year. The statistics also reveal the trusts


made an additional £4,296,925 from parking charges paid by patients and visitors in the same financial year. This brought the total parking income generated by three trusts to more than £5.3m. Unite, the union representing


health workers, said parking charges amountedto a “tax on hard- pressed” employees. Michael Cott, Unite regional offi-


cer, said: “NHS bosses…are raking in enormous sums of money in the form of carparking charges from hard-pressed and dedicated NHS staff. “It is a running sore of a scandal.


Basically, it is a tax for going to work. We would like a situation where NHS staff don’t have to pay these horrendous charges when they go towork, or to look after the sick, injured and vulnerable 24/7,


365 days a year.” AMaidstone andTunbridgeWells


NHS Trust spokesman said: “In- come generated from car parking goes towards the maintenance and improvement of our car parks. In- come thereafter is used to support our hospital services. “MTWworkshardto keepour car


parking charges in line with other hospitals andthere are awide range of patientswho benefit fromfree or reduced travel costs”, in line with theNHSHealthcareAssistedTravel Cost Scheme. “For example, it provides free (or


reduced cost) car parking equitably for people in a range of circum- stances based on their income. Visi- tors are advised to talk to the ward or department about the range of travel and parking concessions available.We also offer many other concessions that greatly reduce parking costs for patients receiving ongoing care at ourhospitals andfor relativesmaking regular visits. “If car parking chargeswere to be


abolished, our hospitalswouldneed to replace the loss inincome to avoid diverting resources from patient care.” NHS staff have the option to pay


to park at the hospital at a cost of £17.33 a month. Alternatively, staff can pay £1 per 24-hour period.


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OVER 400 friends and colleagues got together at theHeart of KentHospice in Aylesford on Saturday,October 13 for the annualMoonlitWalk. The event, sponsored by GenesisCare, allowed visitors to test themselves


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