Hastings and Rye’s local MP, Sally-Ann Hart, has called on the Government to introduce free hospital car parking for frontline NHS staff and those working in the care sector.
Speaking in the House of Commons today (18th November), Sally-Ann said “the Government rightly introduced, for a temporary period, free hospital car parking to NHS staff back in March. This was absolutely the right thing to do. Well with Christmas fast approaching I am asking the Government to provide our health and care workers with an early present. Let’s extend the free hospital car parking again. Let’s make sure that as our brave NHS workers continue to battle the virus, we do all we can to support them. I would go further this Christmas. I would extend the free car parking beyond that of our hospitals. I am asking that the Government consider free car parking for our NHS and social care staff in all local authority car parks as well.”
This intervention from the local MP followed reports that some NHS Trusts were looking at increasing car parking permits on NHS staff by as much 200%. Back in March the Government introduced free hospital car parking for NHS staff through the first wave of the pandemic, but this policy was stopped once restrictions were lifted in June.
Sally-Ann Hart is now seeking for this policy to be reintroduced and the government to provide funding to NHS Trusts and local authorities to give free hospital car parking to health and social care staff at hospitals and local authority car parks.
“We shouldn’t be making life harder and more frustrating for our health and social care workers. Right now, in this pandemic, we should be in the business of helping and supporting them. So, let’s do the right thing this Christmas. Let’s extend free hospital car parking to our NHS heroes, and let’s go further and extend free car parking at all local authority car parks to all NHS and social care workers. They have been there for us throughout this pandemic, under extraordinary pressure. Let’s give them a little gift this Christmas. Let’s make life a little easier for them,” said Sally-Ann.