FURIOUS NHS staff in south Essex are “seeking legal advice” as hospital bosses press on with plans to scrap free parking in a move branded a “pay cut for workers”.

All staff working across Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals will be told by the close of play today if their applications for a parking permit have been successful.

The Mid and South Essex Trust, which manages the hospitals, has come under fire since announcing in July that free parking would be axed and staff would have to apply for a permit.

Outraged unions and workers branded the move a “pay cut” for staff and campaign group Save Southend NHS claimed senior doctors are “seeking legal advice” over potentially being forced to pay to park.

An appeal process will be available and it is understood staff will be given a grace period until October 1.

A Save Southend NHS spokesman said: “There is a massive debate amongst consultants at all three hospitals. Management has proposed a scale of parking permit charges proportional to wages, so it is going to cost some consultants over £600 a year to park.

“The consultant group are seeking legal advice as the trust doesn’t have a licence to charge for parking services apparently and scaled charges may not be legal and contradicts their terms of having to live within a certain distance of the hospital and be able to return in under 30 minutes when on call.”

The trust originally waived parking fees in March 2020 after 400,000 signed a petition calling for free parking for NHS workers. However, nationally the Government ended free parking for NHS hospital staff in March 2022.

Unison have also opposed the charges and launched a petition, with eastern regional organiser Sam Older saying: “The trust should be doing all it can to show how it values these essential staff, not leaving them out of pocket for helping the community.”

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, said: “We are still in the process of introducing permits but at the heart of this scheme is reducing site congestion, improved safety and providing a fair parking scheme across our sites.

“There is also an active travel scheme and free bikes for Basildon staff at Band 4 and below.”