HOSPITAL bosses have today vowed to look again at controversial car parking measures which could leave staff having to walk home alone late at night.The Evening Star has been inundated with calls from angry Ipswich Hospital workers since they were told they will be banned from parking on site if they live within a 25 minute walk of the hospital.

HOSPITAL bosses have today vowed to look again at controversial car parking measures which could leave staff having to walk home alone late at night.

The Evening Star has been inundated with calls from angry Ipswich Hospital workers since they were told they will be banned from parking on site if they live within a 25 minute walk of the hospital.

One nurse described the decision as another kick in the teeth with morale at the hospital already low enough.

The nurse said: “Everybody is really worried about this.

“It seems like the managers have made this decision without any thought for staff safety.”

The controversial new restrictions, which meant the boundary stretched as far as Holly Road in Kesgrave, were due come in to force today but health chiefs have agreed to reassess the decision after receiving numerous complaints from worried members of staff.

Hospital spokeswoman Jan Rowsell said: “The trust executive team has agreed to look at this in more detail and for the time being, all permit holders - even if they live within the increased walking boundary - will be able to continue to use their permit.”

However, other proposals to increase the rate for staff car-parking will still go ahead.

Fees will go up from £3 a month to £15 a month, and an independent enforcement agency will be bought in to hand out fines to all those breaking the rules.

The changes had been agreed by the trust board earlier this year in a bid to tackle its multi million pound debt but unions said they had brought further misery on beleaguered staff.

Victoria Muller, Ipswich Hospital Unison rep, said: “Nursery fees have gone up, car parking has gone up, nurse shift patterns are being looked at - staff feel victimised, whether admin, consultants, nursing, everyone is affected.

“We are totally against the rise put on staff.”