By Mark Bygrave, Witham Constituency Labour Party, personal capacity
East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), in their infinite wisdom and tradition of supporting long suffering, overworked and underpaid health workers at Colchester General Hospital, have now surpassed themselves with the latest decision.
Not content with charging workers to park in the car park instead of providing decent level of free facilities, they have now decided to ban all workers who live within 3 miles from using the car park altogether.
Now, there may be some arguing that anything that gets a few more cars off the road is a good thing, but do you really think that was the motivation by NHS management?
No, they see an opportunity to increase revenue by abolishing discounted parking for workers, so they can be free to charge patients the full whack and thus increase takings.
No doubt parking costs are now an essential revenue stream as privatisation continues by the back door
Given Colchester’s abysmal cycling infrastructure and overpriced privatised bus services, this is just another kick in the teeth for long suffering NHS workers.
Even if it was a preference to cycle, the employer provides no facilities to workers to shower so they can start their shift clean.
Most nurses on the wards don’t even have a place to eat a sandwich or take a break in a room with windows, comfortable chairs or a place to relax for 30 minutes.
Is it any wonder nurses and doctors are seriously wondering what they are doing working for low pay, working extra to compensate for under staffing and in conditions that are no better than Victorian workhouses?
Over 42,000 vacancies exist for nurses in England alone, but you can earn more and have less stress and better conditions working for Lidl.
12 hour shifts with nowhere to recharge – Tory Britain workhouse style!
“It won’t be long before car park spaces earn more than nurses!”
I’ll leave you with these words from a nurse who wishes to remain anonymous;
“So, I’m just a nurse. I don’t have a health condition. I don’t have very young children anymore that need taking to school etc. I can ride a bike. I have a bike. But, I can’t ride my bike to work, there’s no facility to get a shower and get changed. All main roads on the way as well which actually I’m a bit scared of but that’s ok, that’s my issue, not yours. I do long shifts, often I don’t get a break or a chance to eat anything, but that’s fine I’m a nurse, that’s what we do.
“I would rather my patients were well looked-after. I pay to park; we have all paid to park for a long time even though we struggle to get a space sometimes, we still pay. I won’t be eligible for a parking space because I’m just a nurse, I work long shifts, I have a bike, I can cycle to work. I can’t shower or change when I get there but that’s OK. And when I’ve finished my shift, sometimes very late if the night staff haven’t turned up, I can cycle home again, in the dark, feeling unsafe and scared and tired and most times bloody hungry! I can do that. Hopefully my child who isn’t young enough to matter won’t need me to get to her in a hurry or in an emergency at any point because I’m just a nurse who isn’t allowed to take her car to work anymore. I mean, after the massive pay rise we just received we should be more than satisfied hey! It won’t be long before car park spaces earn more than nurses!”
The NHS is despised by the Tories because it gives a glimpse in to how society could be organised.
Socialised medicine has extended life expectancy, virtually eradicated death in child birth, and generally raised health outcomes for everyone.
The rich see this as too much encouragement and want those that cannot afford it to go without treatment unless they can make a profit in the process.
Imagine what socialised education, transport, energy and banking could do to lift everyone out of poverty forever.
Tories out!
Save the NHS!
Labour to power on a socialist programme!
September 27, 2018
