Hospital backs down over parking

The hospital said it is reconsidering its parking scheme

Bosses at a hospital in Sussex have backed down in a row over parking for employees.

Managers at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath had decided not to give parking permits to about 20% of its staff.

As a result some workers who could not find anywhere to park on surrounding roads were forced to ask nearby residents for help.

One employee, who did not want to be named, pushed letters through the door of nearby households asking if he could use driveways to park his car.

'Very sad'

He said as a worker in the intensive care unit he was putting patients' lives at risk by not being able to get to work on time.

One resident who received the letter, Sheila Lovell, said: "I think it is very sad that someone is reduced to having to write begging letter such as this and I am sorry I cannot help."

Bosses at the hospital said they were thinking again about the permit situation.

But they added that everyone who works at the hospital, even the top managers, had to apply for a permit in the same way.