Staff have slammed the ‘poor’ parking facilities at University Hospital Coventry. Vehicles were submerged in water when the city was hit by heavy downpours on Monday (January 6).
Employee Ellen Kate said it is an ongoing issue that happens ‘every time it rains.’ Many were said to have abandoned their cars as their engines became flooded.
Ms Kate called on the UHCW NHS Trust to improve the car parking at University Hospital Coventry. She said they have to pay around £60 a month to use the facilities, which she slammed as ‘poor.’
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Speaking to CoventryLive, Ms Kate said: “You would like to think with all staff paying at least £60 a month for car parking that the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust would reinvest some of our hard-earned money into the maintenance of the car parks so that our engines do not get flooded leaving work every time it rains.”
She added: “Cars are not cheap, and I speak on behalf of thousands of us who work there who feel it is our right to be provided with car parks that keep our cars safe from damage.”
Staff were seen wading through inches of water as they made their way back to their vehicles on Monday. Bosses at the UHCW NHS Trust apologised to those affected and said the River Sowe had burst its banks, which led to the staff car parks becoming flooded.
In a statement to CoventryLive, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said: “Like many areas of Coventry and Warwickshire impacted on Monday (January 6), the UHCW NHS Trust experienced flooding in parts of two of its staff car parks when the River Sowe at the back of University Hospital Coventry burst its banks.”
It added: “Action was taken to close affected areas, plus staff and support vehicles were dispatched to help colleagues struggling to access their cars. We recognise this was an unpleasant experience for those affected and apologise for the inconvenience caused. Water levels had receded by the following day, leaving only a small number of spaces unavailable.”
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