Parking charges for NHS staff have been scrapped while they battle the coronavirus outbreak, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.
The move follows mounting public outrage that health workers should have to pay to park during the crisis, with over 400,000 people signing a Change.org petition for the fees to be scrapped.
The Government said Mr Hancock would give immediate financial backing for all NHS trusts to provide free car parking to NHS staff for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Local Government Secretary has also agreed for local councils to offer free car parking to all NHS workers and social care staff during the coronavirus outbreak.
The government has also agreed a scheme with the Local Government Association to provide free parking for NHS staff, volunteers and social care workers in car parks and on-street.
Mr Hancock said: "Our NHS is facing an unprecedented challenge, and I will do everything I can to ensure our dedicated staff have whatever they need during this unprecedented time.
"So we will provide free car parking for our NHS staff who are going above and beyond every day in hospitals across England.
"My enormous gratitude goes out to the many NHS Trusts and other organisations already providing free car parking and I urge other Trusts to do the same with our backing."
Anthony Gallagher, an NHS GP, set up the petition as a way of thanking NHS staff for their ‘‘bravery to step up in our nation's hour of need."
Responding to the news, Anthony said: “I am in no doubt that the Government did not begin this week intending to cover all parking charges for NHS staff. This is a massive success, thanks to all the hundreds of thousands of people who signed my change.org petition.
"I hope after this nightmare has passed, that the Government will still notice how NHS workers go above and beyond EVERY day. It would not be reasonable, at that time, to give them all a pay-cut and reinstate parking charges. I am optimistic that the Government will do what is right and scrap these parking charges permanently."
It comes after the announcement that all council-run car parks in Newcastle will be free of charge for the next three weeks, to help key workers who have to make essential journeys into the city.
The move is aimed at helping support key workers, with 700 parking spaces made available to critical care staff at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and a further 87 for Freeman Hospital workers.
