Coronavirus in Scotland: Staff hospital parking charges should be scrapped

Parking charges for staff working at the three Scottish hospitals which still demand payment should be waived during the coronavirus crisis, it has been claimed.

Miles Briggs MSP has called for all staff parking charges at hospitals to be scrapped.

Workers at the Edinburgh and Glasgow Royal Infirmaries, as well as Ninewells in Dundee, are still charged by private firms for parking, despite the Scottish Government scrapping similar fees at all other hospitals.

Today Nicola Sturgeon was urged at First Minister’s Questions to ensure the fees for NHS workers are scrapped, given the key workers have been told not to use public transport.

Conservative health secretary Miles Briggs said: “Given the sacrifices being made by key health workers, this move has to apply now, that’s the very least they deserve. NHS staff shouldn’t have to pay to park at work at the best of times.

“But given this crisis, their brave and fundamental role in fighting it, and the advice given in relation to public transport, the message has to be clear. All those working at the three hospitals where charges still apply should be able to park there for free.”

SNP MSP Sandra White has also called for the private parking firms to ditch the charges as NHS staff are working longer hours to tackle the virus.

She has written to parking bosses urging them to “show solidarity” with health service staff and scrap the charges, that can cost up to £20 a day.

She said: “It’s time for these private car parking companies to play their part in fight against corona virus too, and scrap charges at Scottish hospitals so NHS staff can get to work and focus on the task at hand.”

Nicola Sturgeon said Health Secretary Jeane Freeman was already looking into alternatives. “The Health Secretary is looking urgently at how we can get rid of parking charges during this period from these hospitals. Hopefully we can talk to the companies, but if not the government will want to do what it can to take away that cost from those who will be working so hard to keep us safe.”

Mr Briggs added: “It’s vital we see urgent action now and I’m pleased the First Minister has agreed to take this forward.”