Anger at staff “parking illegally” at Good Hope Hospital, while visitors must pay

Claims drivers dumping their cars on pavements, verges, double yellow lines, and even double reds at the Sutton Coldfield hospital

Scores of staff at a busy Birmingham hospital are causing traffic chaos by “parking illegally every day,” an insider has claimed. Doctors and nurses are said to be routinely parking on double yellow and red lines and disabled bays at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield.

They have also been accused of parking on pavements and verges at the site. An angry staff member claims they block pedestrians and those in wheelchairs or mums pushing prams, forcing them dangerously into the road.

The insider claimed that warning signs placed on cars are ignored, with often the same cars seen in the same spots day after day. The staff member said visitors to the site, who are asked to pay £3.10p an hour, are upset when they see so many cars parked illegally when they are asked to pay steep parking fees.

The problem was said to have been going on “since the pandemic started.” They said it resulted from new management not fining staff parked illegally but insisting on just issuing warnings.

These warnings were routinely ignored, he claimed. It was said to be worse in the mornings and lunchtime but continues later in the day.

Birmingham Live visited the site this week on Wednesday (May 25th) and saw the parking chaos was precise as described. Rows of cars ignoring double yellow and even double red lines near A&E.

Dozens of cars were seen parked illegally at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, with warning tickets - but they are routinely ignored.

There were cars parked on verges with blue warning signs in plastic pouches, ignored. We saw a Stericycle lorry delivering supplies getting stuck as selfish drivers had parked on the road, leaving no room for them to get through.

The angered staff member, who lives in Birmingham, told Birmingham Live: “Parking has become ridiculous. There are over one hundred cars parked illegally every day. Every single day.

“They park on double yellows and even double reds. The Trust is clueless, and no action has been taken."

He continued: "It’s becoming a problem for everyone on site. Staff and visitors who pay to park their vehicles say, “why should we when these guys are parking on pavements?” It is £3.10p an hour to park.

“There is no enforcement because the management is incompetent. Even some staff have complained about it to their managers, but nothing has been done.”

There is a big warning site at one of the two entrances to the Good Hope Hospital site - but it is ignored.

The insider added: “Most vehicles parked illegally are staff members. But there is no actual enforcement, and they know it. I find it most frustrating that it is staff members. And they should understand that ill and disabled people use the site.

“The warning signs say if you repeat this offence, your parking privileges will be taken away, and you will be referred to your line manager. But this never happens to those in higher grades.

“The doctors and nurses get away with it. But not the lower-paid staff. One of the staff members, a staff nurse, has received one hundred warnings but continues.

Some drivers left their cars on double reds at Good Hope Hospital.

They added: “It is causing a lot of frustration. Warning signs do not mean anything. If they are not enforced, they will park illegally repeatedly. It stops deliveries coming in. They should show consideration, but the drivers are just selfish. It has got out of hand.”

“This new management came in. Fines used to be issued, which reduced the problem. But that has been stopped. Warning signs are issued, but they are not a deterrent.”

A spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham, which runs Good Hope Hospital, said: "We do not underestimate the strength of feeling about the pressures on car parking capacity, which can lead to irresponsible parking. We are working with car parking operators on a new system that will offer more efficient use of existing space, better flexibility and affordability for staff, and enforceability for any driver not parking responsibly.

“The Trust is also investing in new cycle facilities and working with transport operators to enable good commuter discounts. We are also exploring the possibility of off-site park-and-ride-type facilities to reduce car parking pressure on the hospital site.”