Latest news with #UniversityHospitalsTees
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Ben Houchen got 'no reply' to new North Tees hospital meeting request letters
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen says he has written to the health secretary "13 times" about plans for a new hospital but has yet to receive a direct reply. The Conservative peer, who was being quizzed by BBC Tees listeners, was asked by a caller for an update on the project at North Tees in Stockton, which one described as "not fit for purpose".Houchen highlighted the importance of government involvement in delivering on his election promise, but he said his requests over the last year for a meeting with Wes Streeting remained unanswered. The Department of Health has been approached for comment. University Hospitals Tees said its teams were working together to develop a plan. Houchen was responding to listener Andy, from Ingleby Barwick, who said: "I just wanted to know what was going on because it is not fit for purpose for the residents in Stockton at the moment."I have been recently, all the ceiling tiles are falling in. It's very old and dated."BBC Sounds: Ben Houchen gives North Tees hospital updateExplaining his attempts to contact the health secretary, Houchen said: "I said I just wanted a meeting to talk to you about the need for a new hospital. I have not even received a reply. 13 times over the last 12 months."The only reply that I got, which was about a month ago, was his office, which replied saying: 'The secretary of state can't meet you and we will let you meet a junior minister at some point in the future'."Now to me that is not on." 'Speaks volumes' Houchen said to build a "brand new state-of-the-art hospital" that served the Tees Valley region and beyond "requires government involvement.""A new hospital is going to cost potentially £1bn and the secretary of state has to be involved in that process," he said."The fact that the secretary of state doesn't want to meet me speaks volumes." Houchen was asked if he had raised the issue during his meetings with the prime minister and other mayors in Downing said: "I raise it regularly with anybody that will listen to me, but ultimately because they have taken back control of the NHS the Secretary of State is ultimately the decision maker in the NHS."A University Hospitals Tees spokesperson said: "Our estates and clinical teams are working collaboratively to develop a strategic outline case to support our ambitions." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital parking charges up 108% for consultants
Consultants and some doctors at a hospital have seen staff parking charges increase by more than 100%, a union says. Price rises accompanied the introduction of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. A University Hospitals Tees (UHT) spokesperson confirmed £1.8m would be invested in car park improvements over the coming year. The British Medical Association (BMA) has described the new charges as "shocking and unacceptable". Some members of staff on lower salaries would see a decrease in charges but consultants would pay a tariff for a dedicated car park for them, said the UHT. The BMA has said charges for consultants at the hospital have gone up by 108%, with some doctors on specific shift patterns seeing increases in excess of 125%. The price changes will bring the South Tees hospitals in line with the policy of the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, which has had varied prices for staff over the last 10 years. Dr Andy Thornley, representing the BMA, said: "Charging staff who are just trying to come to work to care for patients at the hospital to make financial gains for a struggling trust is wrong. "Worse still is the unfair charges that patients and their visitors are being forced to pay, with no choice in order to access the hospital. "This is just the latest in what can only be described as chaotic implementation of new parking measures at the hospital, impacting not only consultants but also resident doctors who are still unsure what the new charges will mean for them. "We want assurances that staff who are members of the parking scheme will not be fined additional charges for simply coming to work to care for patients." A UNISON spokesperson reinforced this message, stating that imposing higher parking charges on NHS staff and patients "shows a shocking lack of understanding" of the financial struggle many are facing. The trust has said it is the first increase in two years and that any surplus funds will be diverted into patient care. A spokesperson said: "We understand the price rise is not welcome news, but we have kept the increase as low as possible. "We would like to reassure all our patients and visitors that the income from car parking is used to maintain our car parks including the costs of repairs and maintenance, lighting, gritting and security, all of which helps us to retain our 'Park Mark' Safer Parking Scheme accreditation. "This coming year will see us invest £1.8m in improvements to our car parking." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Hospital parking charges rise 'necessary' Hospital parking charges to increase Hospital staff protest over planned parking change The James Cook University Hospital
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Middlesbrough hospital consultants charged 108% more for parking
Consultants and some doctors at a hospital have seen staff parking charges increase by more than 100%, a union rises accompanied the introduction of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.A University Hospitals Tees (UHT) spokesperson confirmed £1.8m would be invested in car park improvements over the coming British Medical Association (BMA) has described the new charges as "shocking and unacceptable". Some members of staff on lower salaries would see a decrease in charges but consultants would pay a tariff for a dedicated car park for them, said the BMA has said charges for consultants at the hospital have gone up by 108%, with some doctors on specific shift patterns seeing increases in excess of 125%.The price changes will bring the South Tees hospitals in line with the policy of the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, which has had varied prices for staff over the last 10 years. 'Lack of understanding' Dr Andy Thornley, representing the BMA, said: "Charging staff who are just trying to come to work to care for patients at the hospital to make financial gains for a struggling trust is wrong. "Worse still is the unfair charges that patients and their visitors are being forced to pay, with no choice in order to access the hospital."This is just the latest in what can only be described as chaotic implementation of new parking measures at the hospital, impacting not only consultants but also resident doctors who are still unsure what the new charges will mean for them."We want assurances that staff who are members of the parking scheme will not be fined additional charges for simply coming to work to care for patients."A UNISON spokesperson reinforced this message, stating that imposing higher parking charges on NHS staff and patients "shows a shocking lack of understanding" of the financial struggle many are trust has said it is the first increase in two years and that any surplus funds will be diverted into patient care.A spokesperson said: "We understand the price rise is not welcome news, but we have kept the increase as low as possible."We would like to reassure all our patients and visitors that the income from car parking is used to maintain our car parks including the costs of repairs and maintenance, lighting, gritting and security, all of which helps us to retain our 'Park Mark' Safer Parking Scheme accreditation."This coming year will see us invest £1.8m in improvements to our car parking." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hospital parking charges rise 'necessary'
Parking charges at some hospitals are to rise from Monday, in what health chiefs say is a necessary move. The increase will be between 30p and 60p for up to four hours, although the first 20 minutes, for pick-up and drop-offs, will remain free. The move affects Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton, the University Hospital of Hartlepool, Peterlee Community Hospital and Northallerton's Friarage. Steve Taylor, of University Hospitals Tees (UHT), has previously said it was understood the move would not be welcome, but the cost of maintaining the car parks could not be covered by its current operating budget. Anything left over from running costs would be diverted to patient care, he pledged. Parking will still be free for the first 20 minutes, for blue badge holders, frequent outpatient attendees, and the parents of sick children admitted to hospital overnight. Mr Taylor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Charging for parking ensures only those who need to visit our hospitals use a parking space and ensures a swift turnover of spaces. "We would like to reassure all our patients and visitors that the income is used to maintain our car parks, including the costs of repairs and maintenance, lighting, gritting and security. "Any surplus money is diverted into patient care to support the delivery of front-line services." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Hospital parking charges to increase Hospital staff protest over planned parking change North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Teesside hospital parking charges rise take effect
Parking charges at some hospitals are to rise from Monday, in what health chiefs say is a necessary increase will be between 30p and 60p for up to four hours, although the first 20 minutes, for pick-up and drop-offs, will remain move affects Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton, the University Hospital of Hartlepool, Peterlee Community Hospital and Northallerton's Taylor, of University Hospitals Tees (UHT), has previously said it was understood the move would not be welcome, but the cost of maintaining the car parks could not be covered by its current operating budget. Anything left over from running costs would be diverted to patient care, he will still be free for the first 20 minutes, for blue badge holders, frequent outpatient attendees, and the parents of sick children admitted to hospital overnight. Mr Taylor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Charging for parking ensures only those who need to visit our hospitals use a parking space and ensures a swift turnover of spaces."We would like to reassure all our patients and visitors that the income is used to maintain our car parks, including the costs of repairs and maintenance, lighting, gritting and security."Any surplus money is diverted into patient care to support the delivery of front-line services." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
