NHS staff in Leicester are to be charged around £100 a month to travel to work following changes to the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust park and ride scheme, says UNISON today.
From next month, hospital staff at Leicester General, Glenfield and Leicester Royal Infirmary will have to pay a daily charge of £4.85 to get to work. Under the current system NHS staff can use it for free.
UNISON says the plan to start charging staff around £100 a month to travel was pushed through with little warning and no proper consultation.
The union wants the trust to think again, talk with staff and properly assess the impact of any changes.
UNISON East Midlands regional organiser James Olner said: “The park and ride scheme was introduced to help low-paid workers get to work and ease pressure on parking, now it’s just a cash grab.
“Hitting staff with a £100 monthly travel bill out of nowhere is wrong and unfair. Hospital bosses must pause this plan immediately and work with employees to find a fairer, more sustainable solution.”
Notes to editors:
– The park and ride service is currently run by Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councils.
– Charges for NHS staff to use the park and ride scheme come into force on 25 August 2025. It will be run by Roberts Travel Group.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy.
