A hospital on the coast is bringing back fees for staff car parks after charges were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The James Paget hospital in Gorleston said fees would be reintroduced from December 1 to bring the hospital in line with other NHS trusts.
Health bosses say the charges will help "address the safety of parking on site" - but the move has been criticised by union leaders who say health workers should not be "taxed" for driving to work to save lives.
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital says some of its staff already have to pay depending on their shift.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, meanwhile, is consulting staff on parking charges.
Unison Eastern regional organiser Peter Passingham said: “For many health workers it’s just not feasible to get public transport.
“Staff rely on their cars to get into work and do their jobs. They shouldn’t be taxed for coming in to save lives.
“The Paget should value these workers, instead it’s clawing back hundreds of thousands of their hard-earned wages in parking fees," he said.
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A hospital spokesperson said: “James Paget Hospital is re-introducing car parking charges for its staff from 1 December 2023, which were paused during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"This brings the hospital in line with other Trusts and national NHS guidance. Parking charges will remain at the same rate that were in place prior to their temporary suspension during the pandemic.
“Introducing this new system will also help address the safety of parking on site, and improve access for both patients and staff," the spokesperson added.
Parking charges for NHS hospital staff in England were waived by the government in March 2020 and reintroduced at some trusts from March 2022.
Last month, the hospital applied for planning permission to build a temporary 370-space carpark to help alleviate ongoing parking issues.
This year, 80 parking spaces were lost on the land used for the hospital's new concept ward, theatre block and Diagnostic Centre.
HOW MUCH WILL STAFF HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING?
Parking rates for staff will remain at the same level as before the pandemic – which was £12 per month for the lowest paid staff or £24 per month for most staff, with a pay-as-you-go option for those working less than full-time hours.
Parking for staff working nights - starting after 7.30pm and ending before 8am - will be free of charge.
The system will be managed by the hospital, with staff using an app-based system to manage their own parking.
A hospital spokesperson said that income generated from all car parking is allocated to car park maintenance, security and consumables, and direct pay costs associated with James Paget car park staff.
Any surplus made is reinvested into healthcare provision, they said.
“At the same time as reintroducing charges for staff, the hospital is implementing a new car parking management system for staff, allowing them to actively manage their parking on site, and keep their vehicle details updated," the spokesperson added.
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