HOSPITAL workers say they are being dished out fines after a shortage of spaces at Colchester Hospital has left them with nowhere to park.

Nurses have told the Gazette how they are being been left to choose between being late for their shift by looking for a parking space, or making their shift on time but being fined £35 by parking operators.

The situation has been compounded by building works taking place at the hospital in Turner Road, with the Dame Clare Marx building, a multimillion-pound centre for planned orthopaedic care, currently under construction and expected to open in 2024.

Wendy Hogg, a post operative nurse, commutes from Layer to Colchester Hospital each day.

She says staff can spend up to half an hour a day searching for a space.

She said: “We can get a parking permit if you fit a certain criteria – I fit that because I live more than seven miles away.

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“We pay for that permit out of our own wages and then we are fined if we can’t find a parking space.”

Mrs Hogg, who has worked at the hospital for 20 years, said the situation is particularly difficult for those who have to work late shifts, as there are rarely any spaces left by the time they arrive for work, and the park and ride service doesn’t run late at night.

She added: “The hospital say they offer staff the park and ride service – if I was on an 8am to 4pm or 9pm to 5pm shift then I would use it, but I'm not [on those shifts], so I can't."

“I don’t know which way to go – people need to know what’s going on [because] it’s absolutely ridiculous, and very stressful given the situation we’re in.

“I’ve appealed to the appeal people and it’s been declined twice. My manager has their hands tied because this sort of thing is not in their remit.

“We’re being penalised for doing our job – it just requires a bit more understanding."

Building projects causing a lack of parking spaces, hospital boss says

A CONSTRUCTION project at Colchester Hospital is one of the main reasons why medical staff are unable to find a space for work, a senior manager has said.

Paul Fenton, the director of estates and facilities at the East Suffolk and North Essex Trust (ESNEFT), explained those who can use the park and ride system should do so, so that staff who have to drive to hospital can find parking spaces.

He said: “One of the alternative travel options we have suggested is park and ride [but] we understand and appreciate this won’t be possible for all staff.

“Staff can, of course, continue to try and park in our staff car parks.

“However, we appreciate finding a parking space can be frustrating on our sites – that’s why we’re asking colleagues for their help by considering alternative ways of travelling to work.”

Mr Fenton added: “That’s because our car parks are very busy during the week – this is for several reasons, including the impact of some ongoing construction projects to improve our hospitals and patient care.

“We are trying to better manage parking for staff, patients and visitors at both Colchester and Ipswich hospitals by asking our colleagues to use alternative ways to travel to work – if they can.”