Hospital nurses face abuse and vandalism when parking near work
Posted 05 March 2024 - 12:59
Call for action letter signed by 2,000 staff and local residents, with both unhappy over parking arrangements at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Nurses are facing verbal abuse and returning to find their cars vandalised when parking at or near the Somerset hospital where they work.
The parking situation at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has become so dire that RCN members delivered a letter signed by 2,000 staff and local people calling for action to the trust’s chief executive on Thursday 29 February.
Hospital staff and local residents unhappy with existing parking arrangements
Nurses working at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton have reported verbal abuse from residents when they park on nearby streets, with one saying a resident had left a fake parking ticket on their car with an abusive note.
Another nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, told Nursing Standard she returned to her car to find a huge scratch and damage to the bumper after leaving it in the hospital car park while she worked a shift. ‘It made me feel very angry and anxious,’ she said. ‘It’s stressful worrying if you are going to be able to find a space before work, and then when you finish your shift you don’t know whether your car will be in one piece when you come back.
‘It’s definitely having a negative affect on the morale of our staff. There is a park and ride option, but I have to drop my child at nursery before work and I can’t do that and be on time for work.’
Issues include staff feeling unsafe, lack of public transport, poor permit system and theft of bicycles
Employees at the trust have to apply for onsite parking permits, which are granted primarily based on travel distance from home, whether staff are required to travel between trust locations as part of their roles, and working hours.
With a lack of spaces, staff often have to park on surrounding roads, which frustrates some local people.
The RCN says members at the trust’s Taunton and Yeovil hospitals have reported problems, with issues including staff feeling unsafe, a lack of public transport, a poor permit system and theft of bicycles. The college has called on the trust to set up a working group to address the problems.
Trust meeting local representatives to discuss issues
RCN South West regional director Lucy Muchina said: ‘Our members have raised significant concerns about their ability to get to and from work safely, affordably and in a timely manner. We are asking the trust to hear these concerns and work with their staff to find ways to improve the situation.’
A spokesman for the trust said it was taking time to fully understand a letter from the RCN before responding, adding: ‘Like at many hospitals across the country, car parking at both Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital is limited.
‘We are aware of the impact of travel to our hospitals on our neighbours, particularly at Musgrove Park Hospital, and also recent incidents that have involved our staff. We ask our colleagues to act respectfully and we continue to meet regularly with local representatives to talk through issues.’
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