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Thousands of NHS staff across England are facing mounting financial pressure from workplace parking fines, according to exclusive data obtained through Freedom of Information requests. The investigation reveals that over 25,000 parking fines were issued to healthcare workers in just 17 of England’s 207 NHS trusts with car parks during 2024.
Experts believe the actual number is substantially higher. Many trusts reported they don’t separate staff fines from visitor penalties, while others rely on third-party parking management companies that declined to share data for the investigation.
Behind these numbers are healthcare professionals struggling with the financial and emotional burden of these penalties. Lisa Duggan, a neonatal nurse at Milton Keynes University Hospital, received a fine after being forced to park in a visitor bay when no staff spaces were available. Despite leaving an explanatory note and displaying her £20 monthly parking permit, she returned after her shift to find a citation.
“It’s absolutely disgusting. I don’t think there’s any care and compassion. I don’t think it’s fair for staff to be put in this situation,” Duggan told reporters. As she attempted to contest the ticket, the fine escalated to nearly £300, eventually requiring her to borrow money to settle the debt after receiving threatening letters about potential court judgments.
The situation is even more dire for Shakebah Robinson, a cancer patient coordinator in south London, who has accumulated nearly 200 tickets over several years, totaling approximately £15,000 in fines – an amount she says she cannot afford to pay.
As a mother of four young children with a recently doubled mortgage, Robinson describes her budget as “razor thin.” Following the end of free parking implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, she struggled to afford the £600 annual cost for a parking permit. Her desperate attempts to avoid fines included trying to park near hospital bins to avoid taking designated spaces.
Robinson claims parking management staff would “jump out” and “aggressively” attempt to record her identification. Her situation highlights the severe financial strain these fines place on essential healthcare workers.
Patricia Marquis, Executive Director at the Royal College of Nursing, expressed concern about the findings: “It really is of concern to think that nurses are regularly, it would appear, being fined for going to work.” She described the scale of fines as “shocking,” especially considering the data represents just a fraction of NHS trusts.
When contacted, Parkingeye, the third-party parking company at St George’s Trust, stated: “Any parking tickets are issued by hospital staff on-site, not by Parkingeye. All parking policies and enforcement procedures are determined and managed directly by the NHS Trust.”
The Trust responded by explaining: “We know that for some of our 10,000 members of staff, including those who work shifts, driving to work is unavoidable. This is why parking permits are prioritised for those who need them the most.”
Milton Keynes University Hospital, where nurse Duggan works, said it had requested the previous parking contractor UKPC to cease enforcement, but the company declined. “They took enforcement action independently and we had no authority to overturn it. We have since terminated our relationship with UKPC and appointed a new parking provider,” the Trust stated. UKPC did not respond to requests for comment.
The Department of Health and Social Care commented that “free parking is available for those in greatest need, including all NHS staff who work overnight,” adding that “hospital car park charges are the responsibility of individual NHS trusts,” but emphasizing that “exploitation or mistreatment of hardworking NHS staff is unacceptable.”
The issue highlights growing tensions between healthcare workers’ need for reliable transportation to deliver critical services and the limited parking infrastructure at many NHS facilities, creating additional stress for staff already working under challenging conditions.
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10 Comments
Shocking to see NHS staff, the backbone of our healthcare system, facing unfair parking fines at their own workplaces. This practice seems heartless and disruptive to dedicated professionals already under immense pressure. Proper parking solutions for staff should be a priority.
Completely agree. NHS staff deserve better treatment and support, not financial penalties, especially during these challenging times. The authorities should address this issue as a matter of urgency.
While parking policies are important, fining dedicated NHS professionals who have no other choice seems punitive and counterproductive. These workers deserve better. I hope the authorities take swift action to address this problem and provide proper parking facilities for staff.
I agree, the current situation is unacceptable. NHS staff are under immense strain as it is – they shouldn’t also have to worry about unfair parking fines on top of everything else. Resolving this issue should be a top priority.
This is a concerning situation that highlights the lack of basic workplace accommodations for crucial NHS employees. Parking fees and fines are an unnecessary burden on healthcare workers who selflessly serve their communities. A fair and compassionate solution is clearly needed.
Absolutely. NHS staff put their lives on the line to care for patients, the very least they deserve is accessible, affordable parking at their workplaces. This issue needs to be resolved swiftly to support our frontline heroes.
This is a troubling report that highlights the need for better workplace support and resources for our NHS heroes. Parking fines piled on top of their already demanding jobs is unfair and demoralizing. I hope a fair, compassionate solution can be found quickly.
Absolutely. NHS staff are the backbone of our healthcare system and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not penalized for trying to do their jobs. The authorities need to step up and provide adequate, affordable parking options for these crucial workers.
It’s deeply concerning to see our NHS staff, who have sacrificed so much to care for us, being hit with these unfair parking fines. This practice seems callous and disruptive to their critical work. Proper parking solutions for healthcare workers should be an urgent priority.
I agree wholeheartedly. NHS staff are the heroes of our healthcare system and should not have to deal with these kinds of unnecessary financial burdens. The authorities must address this issue promptly and ensure NHS workers have access to suitable, affordable parking at their workplaces.