PARKING for NHS staff receiving the Covid-19 vaccine at a pop-up hospital is to be made free, the Glasgow Times can reveal.

Health workers were furious when it emerged they would be forced to pay up to £4 for parking while receiving their jab at the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital - despite patients being allowed to park their cars for free at the nearby SECC multi-storey.

Last month, Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership revealed arrangements were being “put in place” to allow for free parking at the unit.

However, opposition councillors slammed Glasgow City Council, who operate the City Parking subsidiary, for failing to scrap the charges sooner.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary, as well as Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, have lifted charges until March.

An email, seen by the Glasgow Times, was sent out to all members of the City Parking board last night prompting.

Chairwoman Elaine McSporran said: “Last September, the NHS were provided with parking tickets to allow their out-patients visiting the Louisa Jordan Hospital to park within the HYDRO multi-storey car park for free.

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“The NHS agreed to then to be billed a discounted charge of £3 per ticket issued ... We have now been informed that it is likely that there will be an increase in the use of the Louisa Jordan Hospital for continuing vaccinations via the NHS.

“Having considered the current process and the charges to the NHS, I feel that, as part of the Glasgow Family, City Parking should offer this parking facility free of charge.”

She added: “Other than the use for the Louisa Jordan, there is virtually no demand for the Hydro carpark (since there are no events) and I feel that we should provide as much assistance as possible to the NHS and the removing of the charges would go some way to contribute to that assistance.”

A council spokesman added: A spokesman said: “Anyone who has to visit the Louisa Jordan Hospital will now be able to park at the Hydro car park free of charge.

“Agreement had previously been reached with the NHS to allow out-patients attending the Louisa Jordan Hospital to park free of charge.

“A similar agreement was also put in place for Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership staff going to the hospital for vaccinations.

“But with the roll-out of the vaccination programme and additional clinical services being introduced, it is now clear there will be a sizeable increase in the number of people required to attend at the Louisa Jordan Hospital.

“In the circumstances we felt it appropriate to look again at parking arrangements in connection with the hospital.

“As it is vital we do all we can to support the NHS at this critical time, there will also be no charge to the NHS or related organisations for the use of this car parking service.”