Free parking on site for staff at Derriford Hospital was ended in June 2022, and staff with a parking permit were required to pay £2.50 per day (bands 3 up) or £1.50 per day (bands 1-2). The joint trade union staff-side issued a statement in April strongly objecting to this, and asking the Trust to retain the free parking measures. UNISON (Plymouth in UNISON branch) held a “Put NHS Pay Right” demo outside the main entrance on 25 May, and delivered a letter to the Trust CEO and HR Director including the core UNISON ‘asks’ for local Trusts, but also added the parking issue as something within their power to assist staff with the cost of living crisis.
The Trust continued to ask staff and unions for ideas to alleviate the financial pressures, and we continued to raise parking costs as one of the key issues that would help staff locally. We supported the Trust’s intention to look at transport costs more generally, including bus travel, as many staff do not drive to work or are not eligible for a parking permit.
On Weds 12 October the Trust announced that they had listened to staff, and would be reducing the charges to staff parking on site to £1.00 per day from 1 November. They also announced discounted £20/month bus travel card, and free bus travel from the Park and Ride. We think this link will work for Derriford Staff to access this. https://t.co/cUrqevnEXL
They are also introducing value meal deals in the hospital restaurant and ‘at cost’ food to take away from another outlet on site.
The Branch Women’s Officer, Rae Lloydmorgan, (who is also a rep in the hospital) is also spearheading an initiative to alleviate period poverty. Working with UHP, the Trade Unions, and the charity Binti (bintiperiod.org) she is arranging for free sanitary products to be made available throughout the hospital. Rae is also offering menopause drop-ins offering staff advice and signposting to support available.
