Inquiry into hospital workers 'abusing cheap parking passes'

A PROBE has been launched amid concerns that health workers are using discounted permits to treat Marchmont as a "car park".

Both the city council and NHS Lothian are investigating any potential misuse of the permits, which are designed to make it easier for essential health workers who are based at the Sick Kids and need to park in residential areas.

The pass, which costs just £10 a year, is open to NHS Lothian staff and registered GPs, and allows them to park on single or double yellow lines.

Scores of permits were issued following the extension of parking restrictions in Marchmont in 2006, but residents claim some holders abuse the system.

It is alleged that workers still leave their cars in the area but actually travel on a free NHS shuttle bus to other parts of the city.

Local Tory councillor Cameron Rose has raised the issue with council officials.

He said: "This (potential misuse] has been suggested to me by a few locals. It looks as if it needs a review to check the permits are not being inappropriately used.

"Following comments from some local residents around the Sick Kids hospital, I asked the acting head of transport in the council to look at the issue.

"I noted on some days in Melville Terrace there were as many as 23 cars sporting 'essential user' permits on yellow lines."

NHS Lothian runs shuttle buses between the Sick Kids and various parts of the city, including the ERI and the Western General.

Parking problems arose after the city's controlled parking zone was expanded to cover Marchmont and the Grange.

The Sick Kids on Sciennes Road was inside the old controlled parking boundary, but many staff previously parked in surrounding streets where it was unrestricted. Now, most of those spaces are either for residents only or have pay-and-display meters, mainly with a four-hour limit.

An extra 80 permits were subsequently handed to NHS Lothian by the council for the use of essential staff at the Sick Kids.

The permits were supposed to ensure that staff who have to go out and visit patients could still park close to their workplace.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city's transport leader, said: "We are undertaking a review of essential users permits.

"The Sick Children's Hospital (has] 230 permits for frontline staff and we would expect a number of vehicles with permits to be in situ at any time.

"However if these permits are being abused by workers going to other facilities then that would be a matter of concern for us."

John Jack, director of facilities at NHS Lothian, said: "Where we find permits are held inappropriately, (they] will be withdrawn and reallocated.

BADGE CHEATS CAUGHT IN THE ACT

THE latest crackdown on blue badge fraud in the city has resulted in 18 warnings and one person being referred to the procurator fiscal.

The two-week crackdown in December also saw seven parking tickets issued for drivers failing to show a pay-and-display voucher.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city's transport leader, said: "The aim of this campaign was to educate drivers about the proper way in which blue badges should be used, rather than to catch people out.

"It was disappointing that so many were found to be misusing these badges. It takes valuable spaces away from genuine badge holders who have to rely on their cars. It also means that some people are enjoying free parking which they are not entitled to."