Sheffield MP Abtisam Mohamed fights NatWest plans to remove only cashpoint at Hallamshire Hospital
Removing the only cashpoint from a hospital will affect vulnerable elderly people, an MP says
A Sheffield MP is fighting plans by NatWest to close the only cash machine at the Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.
Abtisam Mohamed said removing the unit by the main entrance on B Road would remove access to cash for vulnerable and elderly people occupying the 500 beds in the hospital and staff.
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NatWest says usage has fallen 69 per cent in the last six years and there is another cash machine less than a mile away.
But the MP for Sheffield Central said it wasn’t the same as removing a high street cashpoint.
She told The Star: “Vulnerable elderly people, patients with restricted mobility issues, not to mention visitors who may be wrapped up with worry for loved ones, should not be expected to walk up to a mile to access cash.
“It is a vital service for the hardworking staff and the people they serve.
“Retaining this cashpoint is not just a matter of convenience, but of fairness and accessibility, and I will continue to support efforts to keep the cashpoint in place.”
A survey by LINK, the body that carries out assessments of access to cash in the community, found that within a one-mile radius there is a post office, bank, building society and one cash machine, which it did not name.
A Google search states the nearest cashpoint is at Humphrey’s Off-licence Store at 357 Glossop Road, a three-minute walk from the main entrance.
NatWest said it recognised access to cash could be “particularly important” in a hospital setting, and they had approached the decision with care.
A spokesperson said: “The ATM at Royal Hallamshire Hospital has seen a significant and sustained decline in use, with withdrawals down by around 69 per cent since 2019, reflecting wider changes in how people are choosing to pay.”
The bank did not supply daily usage figures.
The spokesperson added: “We have been in regular contact with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust over the past year to discuss cash provision at the site and ensure there was sufficient time to consider future options.
“We have advertised the forthcoming closure of the machine for several months to allow customers time to adjust to the change.
Free-to-use ATMs remain available nearby, and everyday banking services can also be accessed through the Post Office network.
“While decisions like this are never taken lightly, the removal reflects changing customer demand alongside our responsibility to manage services sustainably, while continuing to support access to cash for those who need it.”
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was approached for comment.