Southend and Basildon hospital staff on parking permits

Free parking for all staff working across Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals has been withdrawn following a controversial decision by hospital bosses.

As a result, all staff had to apply for parking permits and thousands of workers have missed out despite the Mid and South Essex Trust issuing more than 10,000 permits.

Now, campaign group Save Southend NHS have claimed staff now feel unsafe as they walk through dark streets surrounding the hospitals to find on-street parking.

Free parking was initially introduced before the Covid pandemic but parking permits for staff who qualify where re-introduced in September.

A spokesperson Save Southend NHS, said: “Since before Covid in 2020, we have asked for free permit parking for all NHS staff at Southend.

“There are lots of empty parking places, especially at night and staff have been saying the same for years along with bank and agency workers - that they have real difficulties in finding street places close to the hospital.

“The dangers of staff having to walk dark streets in the area is real and agency staff are denied permits, there is a lack of CCTV in the area.

“Senior managers all have discounted parking, why not frontline staff who actually care for patients?”

The trust has further claimed that CCTV outside the hospital grounds and street parking is not within their area of responsibility.

Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We take the safety and wellbeing of our staff very seriously.

“We took the decision to reintroduce staff parking permits from September 2024, in line with most other Trusts across the country.

“This will improve the safety and accessibility of our car parks for staff and patients and creates a fairer system across all three main hospital sites.

“Staff living close by are encouraged to use public transport.”