Plans for increased car parking charges for staff at Northwick Park Hospital are currently on hold.

After complaints from some employees at Northwick Park Hospital that they would be charged nearly double for parking their car at their workplace, the London North West University Healthcare Trust (LWNH) will be reviewing the new scheme.

The new charges were intended to be applied tomorrow (February 1), with the amount paid depending on a staff members salary band – meaning that employees on the higher bands would pay up to £91.35 per month.

Staff classed in the lowest band would however pay a reduced price of £24.50 per month.

This was met with concerns from many employees who called the prices extortionate and there was no guarantee of parking availability.

A spokesperson for LWNH said: “We can confirm that the Trust has decided to pause the proposed staff car parking charge increases.

“The Trust Board revisited the decision, following feedback from staff regarding concerns over the wider staff car parking policy which needs to be reviewed alongside any potential increases.

“We will work closely with staff to revise the car parking policy before we put in place any changes to parking charges”.

UNISON, the NHS public service union that represents Northwick Park Hospital, backed the previous complaints by staff.

UNISON Greater London regional organiser, Joel Bodmer, said: “Healthcare workers should not be used to shoulder the burden of the financial pressures the trust is facing.”

For now, the trust is reviewing the complaints and has promised that the new charges will not apply.