AQW 12113/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 17/05/2024
Answered On Date: 28/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the (i) process; and (ii) criteria used to allocate car parking passes for staff at hospital sites.

Answer:

Process

Three of the HSCNI Trusts do not operate staff parking permit or application processes; Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT); Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT). These Trusts have free car parking available for staff which operates on a first come, first served basis. However, they have advised that an application process based on need is under consideration.

The remaining three Trusts have an application process in place; Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT); South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT).

A summary of the process in place used to allocate car parking spaces is outlined below as advised by Trust:-

HSC Trust	Current Process
1.NHSCT 2.NIAS 3.WHSCT	No allocation or application process, free car parking provided for all staff on a first come, first served basis.
4.SHSCT	An application process in in place based on a first come, first served basis. A waiting list is held.
5.BHSCT	A new application process has been introduced on a phased basis using criterion to assess demonstrable need.
6.SEHSCT	An application system is in place using criterion to assess demonstrable need.

Criteria

SHSCT allocate staff car parking permits on receipt of a written application on a first come, first served basis and formulate a waiting list until spaces are available.

SEHSCT has four eligibility criteria as advised and outlined below:-

No.	Assessment Criteria	Example
1	Automatic Entitlement	Blue Badge holder
2	Sustainability Considerations	Distance from home to base
3	Conditions of Employment	Unsocial shift pattern
4	Personal or Professional Extenuating Circumstances	Section 75 Category

BHSCT has ten eligibility criteria as advised and outlined below:-

No.	Assessment Criteria
1	Disability (holders of a blue badge)*
2	Perm. night duty/evening (from 4pm onwards)/w/end working*
3	Required to use private vehicle on a daily basis to directly deliver patient or client care (i.e. Community Health Visitor/District Nurse/ Midwife/Social Worker)
4	Carry out shift working as a requirement of post and set rota (scheduled to reg. start before 7:30am or finish after 7:30pm)
5	Manage Services on more than 1 site (responsible for managing staff on other Trust sites)
6	Provide services/clinics on more than 1 site (with a frequency of 1 or more times per month)
7	A public transport journey that involves one or more changes, and exceeds 1 hour of a commute. *Added bonus point of 1 point for every 10 miles from home address to base site up to maximum of 4 points for those staff that live 40 miles+. Zero bonus points for anyone who lives under 10 miles from home to base.
8	Parent/Guardian/Carer that uses car to transport children or provide caring responsibilities on way to or from base site and public transport is not a viable option
9	Registered car sharer who is actively sharing on a daily basis. (to inc. BHSCT staff family members within same household.)
10	Required to participate on a scheduled rota for on-call on a regular basis.