NURSES have reacted angrily after Great Western Hospital announced plans to increase parking charges for staff.

From Monday, staff will be charged £1.50 to park in the GWH car park after a shake-up which will also see charges apply to those working evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

This marks a 50 per cent increase on the £1 formerly charged for daytime parking, while night workers who were previously exempt from charges between 7pm to 7am will also now be subject to the changes.

A part-time nurse who works the night shift, and wished to remain anonymous, said: “I just think it’s totally morally wrong. It used to be free for staff members who worked in the evening and now it’s £1.50. Given that parking has gone up by 50 per cent in the day time too I just think it’s disgusting.

“We’re already working so hard and they’re charging us to do our job when there’s no other way we can make it in at night unless we drive.

“We have no choice in this.”

The nurse said hospital representatives have told her the extra money will be used to fund a new car park.

“Why should we have to foot the bill for their new car park? It doesn’t make any sense,” she said.

“It affects everyone in the hospital, from nurses right up to consultants and surgeons. But we don’t earn as much and it really adds up. It seems wrong that we didn’t have to pay for so long.”

GWH nurse and Swindon borough councillor Fay Howard (Lab, Liden, Eldene & Park South) said she was “deeply concerned” about the increased parking charges.

“I’ve spoken to people who work at the hospital who are resorting to parking in Liden so they can avoid the parking charges and walk through,” she said.

“They’re worried that they won’t be able to afford it on a daily basis. Another concern is the congestion problem caused by this.

“Until the charges kick in next week we won’t know how many people will be affected by this.”

A spokesman for GWH said the extra parking charges were inevitable and necessary to fund the expansion of the notoriously overflowing space.

“For some time we have been working with staff on plans to expand the staff car park,” he said.

“Given our financial position, without increasing parking charges, the expansion could not go ahead as we don’t want to use funds which are for patient services.

“Working with staff representatives, a suggestion was made by staff to increase parking charges for staff to fund an expansion and allow staff to park more often.

“We have managed to avoid increasing charges for staff for several years, however improvements are necessary and for most the new arrangement will be cheaper over the course of a week.

“The extra spaces will also help to ensure there is more space in our other car parks for patients and visitors.

“We are doing all we can to improve all parking at the hospital, within the constraints of our financial position.”