![RCN members from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust hand their chief executive a collective car parking protest letter on 27 February (group with RCN flags and tabards) RCN members from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust hand their chief executive a collective car parking protest letter on 27 February (group with RCN flags and tabards)](https://www.rcn.org.uk/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/News-800x400/2024/Feb/Somerset-NHS-FT-car-parking-protest-letter-handover-800x400.jpg?h=400&w=800&la=en&hash=C4C66F7D0EEB8664B2E05D7B53DC2BF4)
RCN members have reported issues including:
- staff feeling unsafe
- unreasonable penalties
- damage to cars in staff parking areas
- lack of public transport at shift change times
- lack of spaces for permit holders
- lack of transparency to the permit system
affordability of permits - lack of CCTV in trust car parks
- poor maintenance of trust car parks
- lack of lighting in trust car parks
- thefts of bicycles
- no secure place to store bicycles
- poor reporting systems.
RCN members are asking the trust to set up a working group with staff representation to look into the problems and work with local partners to improve access for staff and patients.
Lucy Muchina, Regional Director, RCN South West said:
“Our members have raised significant concerns about their ability to get to and from work safely, affordably and in a timely manner. We are asking the trust to hear these concerns and work with their staff to find ways to improve the situation.
I hope that the trust will see that this is a matter concerning many of their staff and that it’s of mutual benefit to work with them to identify solutions. We have heard from our members some great, cost-effective ideas for improvements and they deserve to be heard.”