Sheffield petition continues to gain support as Northern General Hospital staff face rising car park prices
“The financial burden of parking should not make it difficult for me to continue working at the hospital”
A petition launched after staff at a Sheffield hospital raised complaints over the rising cost of parking has continued to garner support.
More than 3,100 people have signed the petition to lower fees at Northern General Hospital.
The woman who launched the online petition on Change.org describes herself as a band 5 nurse, saying the parking changes are putting a “severe strain” on staff finances.
Earlier this year, private operator Parking Eye put up the price of parking at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital and Northern General Hospital, with some frontline NHS staff working 12-hour shifts now paying up to £12 in fees just to do their jobs.
The highest charges are for anyone who parks at the city’s hospitals for longer than 12 hours, which has risen from £9 to £12 at the Royal Hallamshire. At the Northern General the price has risen to £8.50 for those staying over 12 hours.
“Our staff car park fees have jumped from £4 for 11 hours to a staggering £7,” the nurse who launched the online petition wrote.
“This puts a severe strain on our finances, especially when combined with the already high cost of fuel.
“As someone who is dedicated to providing care to our patients, the financial burden of parking should not make it difficult for me to continue working at the hospital.”
It adds: “The current price hike is not only disproportionate but also unfair, given the car park's poor maintenance and security. The facility lacks surveillance cameras and proper lighting, creating an unsafe environment for staff and their vehicles.
“Moreover, in adverse weather conditions, the car park remains ungritted, posing a risk of injury to both staff and visitors.
“We believe that the hospital should reconsider this hike and implement a fair and affordable fee structure. A more reasonable parking fee would not only alleviate our financial stress but also enhance our work environment. The funds saved could be used to improve the overall safety and maintenance of the car park, including the introduction of CCTV and regular gritting during winter months.”
In February, when the petition was launched, it quickly gained 1,400 signatures and has since doubled.
One supporter of the petition wrote: “After working at this hospital for 26 years, parking isn’t safe and you’re not guaranteed a spot, even though we pay for one.”
More broadly, people have raised issue with how hospital parking is handled generally, with many pointing out issues of access to hospitals for staff and patients alike.
“Hospital car parks [were] built with tax payers money - nobody should pay and no private parking firms should be making money from them,” one person responded to The Star when the matter was raised.
Another added: “Supertram to the hospitals would have been a great idea.”
Others suggested hospital staff get access to discounted bus fare, however other expressed concerns about limited hospital parking space becoming even more inaccessible if workers were granted free parking.
“This is a topic with no real answers,” one person wrote.
“If the staff got free parking then would those using public transport get their fares reimbursed.
“More staff might use their cars more, so fewer spaces for patients and later shift starters.”
After the petition was launched In February, facilities director Andrew Jones at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Parking charges for visitors and patients have regrettably increased for the first time since 2023 to reflect the rising costs of maintenance, staffing and keeping our car parks safe and secure.
“Income from parking is used to meet essential costs and any surplus is always reinvested back into patient services.”
The Trust has been approached again.