A PRIVATE firm is selling parking spaces at a Glasgow hospital to anyone who wants them.

The move, which has sparked outrage among workers, follows claims by health bosses they had to introduce unpopular car parking charges in hospitals to make sure there were enough spaces for patients and visitors.

Staff at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have snubbed the hospital's privately-run multi-storey car park, saying they can't afford the £52 a month charges.

Nurses and doctors have fallen victim, as a result, to the worst car crime rates in the city after leaving vehicles in neighbouring East End streets.

But they couldn't believe it when adverts appeared for the spaces in the facility built under the Public Finance Initiative.

The Evening Times has learned the multi-national Apcoa Group aims to rent out almost a third of the car park's 1000 spaces to drivers who have no connection to the hospital.

One nurse, who asked not to be named, said she was outraged at the "cheek" of the firm after she heard adverts for spaces on the radio.

She said: "Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the only excuse for having parking charges at a hospital was to stop commuters taking up the spaces, making room for patients.

"Now this firm is inviting commuters in to use the spaces. It's unbelievable.

"This is introducing more traffic next to our busy accident and emergency unit."

The firm also advertises to passing drivers on the M8 on a giant banner on the car park building.

Round-the clock parking in the car park is on offer at £52 a month the same price a member of hospital staff would pay.

A member of Apcoa staff said: "We have to be open to visitors and members of the public so we'd just count you as a member of the public.

"There's meant to be a cap of 300 on the number of spaces available but we've not reached that."

Union official Cathy Miller said: "They wouldn't have so many spaces empty if staff could afford to park there.

"People are absolutely appalled at this and you can understand why.

"When you think that a cleaner might be getting only £6000 for a part-time job, that's more than 10% of their wages before tax going on parking. People just can't afford it."

Nicola Sturgeon said the matter was "of concern" and warned the fact that the car park was privately built and run would not prevent it coming under the Government's hospital parking review.

She added: "We want to see a maximum limit put on car parking charges across Scotland and ensure a fairer system for patients, carers, staff and hospital visitors."

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "The Glasgow Royal Infirmary car park is run under PFI arrangements and did not form part of phase one of our car parking policy.

"It was also a planning requirement that a percentage of parking spaces should be available for public use.

"The top two floors have been dedicated for parking for staff with permits, and around 300 staff have taken advantage of concessions for monthly and weekly charges.

"These tickets are also available for patients and visitors who attend the GRI on a regular basis.

"We await separate guidance from the Scottish Government on the issue of car parks operating under PFI arrangements, and consequently there has been no change to arrangements at the GRI."

8:02am Wednesday 30th January 2008

Exclusive By John McCann

Reproduced with permission from The Evening Times (Glasgow) Newsquest (Herald & Times) Ltd © Newsquest Media Group Ltd.