FRUSTRATED NHS workers are having to set alarms on their phones so they can move their cars every two hours to avoid penalties in the latest parking fiasco.

The 81-strong team at Poole Community Health Clinic say they are no longer allocated staff parking permits at Poole Hospital, leaving them no other option than to park on nearby residential streets.

But staff employed by Dorset HealthCare are being advised to find a space on a different street every two hours when the restriction expires.

It means health workers are being forced to suddenly leave appointments and meetings with some even planning their days around their car parking schedule – therefore seeing less patients as a result.

One clinician from the specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) service, who did not want to be named, said: “We all had permits before and it worked fine. Day to day it means we have to plan our clinics around moving our cars because you can only park on the same street once.

“We set alarms on our phones and staff have to get up in the middle of meetings. We end up seeing less patients as a result and the day is quite filled with anxiety knowing that we can’t relax at work having to move our cars.

“I personally manage my day so it doesn’t disrupt an appointment but in the three times a day it takes to go and move my car and then search for another spot, I could have seen another patient in that time.”

The team, which also includes CAMHS, brain injury clinic and pain service, has criticised employers Dorset HealthCare for not finding a solution.

“We are all frustrated and feeling

a bit helpless. As always, NHS staff – some of the lowest paid public

workers have to compromise their day.

“It is very short sighted by management, who sadly fail to take care of the basic needs of their staff.

“As public sector workers we’re used to ‘just getting on with it’ but I’m saddened that this is the position they are landing us in and expect us to accept it. All we want to do is deliver a good service for our young people and we all work very hard trying to do that.

“We just need some support to have parking in place so we can concentrate on our patients, not on when we need to move our car next.”

Stuart Lynch, CAMHS and rehabilitation services lead for Dorset HealthCare, said: “We are aware of parking issues for our staff based at the Poole Community Health Clinic, and are talking to colleagues at Poole Hospital to try to resolve them.

“We are also looking at alternative parking options in the area. Patient care is our top priority, and we are confident that these issues are having a minimal impact on the services we provide at the site.”

A spokesman for Poole Hospital said it recently reviewed the parking permit scheme for workers and now there are 25 per cent more spaces for patients and visitors.

He said: “Under the scheme, healthcare staff – regardless of their employer - who can demonstrate a need to have on-site parking are prioritised and on-site parking is allocated. All permit applications are considered equally.”

“We work closely with our colleagues at Dorset Healthcare and will continue to do so.”