A HOSPITAL worker claims staff morale is at ‘rock-bottom’ after bosses agreed to hike up parking charges for workers.

The DCH staff member said workers were ‘upset’ about the increase in parking charges by 50 per cent.

The staff member, who did not wish to be identified because of fears over losing their job, said: “Morale is at rock-bottom. People are really upset about it.”

The staff member said that they felt the general public should be made aware of what staff were up against.

Another nurse, who also wished not to be named said: “It’s such a nightmare to park, we’re not allowed to use most of the car park and it takes ages to park elsewhere and walk in.

“It puts a good half an hour to an hour on to our working day, which is already 12 hours long.

“I know we have to make the car park pay but it really does put you off wanting to work here because the staff are not thought about at all.”

She added: “The amount of patients that are late for appointments because they cannot get a parking space is also worrying.”

DCH is currently aiming to achieve a target of £8.4million in its latest savings programme, as it seeks to achieve a financial surplus of £700,000 for the 2011/12 financial year.

The hospital’s director of finance and resources Bill Boa admitted the decision to increase staff parking charges by 50 per cent was a money making scheme.

The hospital will look to generate £52,000 a year by raising parking charges for the first time in two years to £1.60.

Mr Boa said: “It’s to generate extra funds there’s no doubt.”

The charges rise comes as the hospital begins plans for it latest parking policy and Mr Boa said the charges were 50 per cent lower than other trusts.

He said: “Hospital parking is always an issue right across the county so we are constantly looking to do things better.

“We are replacing some of infrastructure in the car park. Looking at machines themselves and spacing of parking.”

He added the plans could include expanding the number of patient spaces.

Last year the Echo reported that the hospital brought in a debt collection agency to chase staff who had not paid parking fines.

The hospital claimed the measure was a ‘last resort’ and was standard practice in many public organisations.