NHS staff and union leaders have slammed plans to axe parking spaces at the city’s new super hospital.

More than 10,000 people are employed at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital but there are currently only around 3,000 free bays for patients and staff.

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However workers have had the option to park for £4 a day on land owned by private Stirling-based Ogilvie Group, on Hardgate Road. The land was originally used by trucks during the project to build the £842million hospital.

However the council’s planning department is recommending the licence is not renewed. An appeal by the firm to continue to offer the 700-bay facility will be heard next week.

Health workers union Unison said it has collected more than 2,000 signatures, in three weeks, from staff in support of the appeal.

Staff have also had access to parking at a temporary facility on Linthouse Road. However the lease on the land is coming to an end.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde say a new, third car park is due to open at the end of the month for patients and staff permit holders which will increase the number of spaces for workers overall.

The board say staff are encouraged to use public transport and around 90 buses an hour service the hospital.

However, staff and union leaders say the policy is “Glasgow-centric” and does not take into account workers who are travelling from outwith the city.

They say, more than half of the parking bays are patient only with approx 1000 allocated to staff permit holders.

Julie MacIntosh, who works in A&E said: “I live in Largs and it would be impossible for me to be on shift at 7.30am using public transport.”

Another worker said: “Staff finish at various times when it is dark and public transport is reduced.

“Many staff have to travel between 23 miles and 50 miles a day to reach the hospital.

“There has been no communication from the board to advise of the closure of the (free) car park.”

Unison say the number of services at the hospital is likely to increase due to cost-savings and centralisation and will mean more staff and patients accessing the site.

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A Unison Glasgow spokesman said: “Once again, the health board and the city council’s position on parking at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital has been exposed as unrealistic and unhelpful.

“These are private enterprises which have sprung up due to their belligerent approach to parking and staff travel to work.”

A spokesman for NHSGGC said: “It is untrue that staff parking provision has been reduced at the QEUH campus. In fact, by the end of this month we will have increased the parking provision for staff on the site.

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“Regarding Ogilvie car park and Linthouse Road, these are not managed by NHSGGC.”