New parking scheme to help NHS Clinical Community Workers in Cornwall deliver health care

Carers will be able to park on double yellow lines for up to two hours under the new scheme by Cornwall Council

Author: Jo SymesPublished 19th Dec 2020

Up to 800 NHS Clinical Community workers are set to benefit from free on-street parking, thanks to a scheme set up by Cornwall Council.

It will be an extension of the Healthcare Permit parking scheme already put in place by the Council to help carers and will provide exemptions for parking, similar to those of the Blue Badge Scheme for disabled people.

The Council believes the scheme would help staff to spend more time delivering vital health services to their patients instead of searching for a place to park.

Workers will be issued with a time clock which will allow them to park for up to two hours, on single or double yellow lines, when they are delivering care to patients.

The local authority says staff will still be expected to park safely and not cause an obstruction.

Parking still isn’t allowed in loading bays or at bus stops or on zig zag lines outside of buildings like schools and hospitals. Specific parking bays such as those reserved for disabled drivers, doctors, taxis or residents are also not included in the scheme.

Those eligible for the new NHS Clinical Community Workers parking scheme have been identified by the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and have already been contacted by them directly to invite them to apply.

“We said that we wanted to put in place a scheme for NHS clinical community workers to be able to park close to the homes of their patients and we’re now able to make good on that commitment.

"It can be an issue for them to find a parking space close to the home of a resident they are visiting to deliver health care.

"This scheme means that they can apply for a permit which will let them park on street for a limited time, even where there are single or double yellow lines.”

Geoff Brown, Portfolio holder for transport, Cornwall Council

“The extension of Cornwall Council’s permit parking scheme will mean clinicians working the community will be able to park more easily, allowing them to spend more time with their patients.

"This is a great example of how health and the Council are working together to support communities.”

Phil Confue, Chief Executive, Cornwall Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust

Any queries concerning the issuing of the permit should be directed to the NHS cft.travel@nhs.net as Cornwall Council says it is unable to provide approval for permits.

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