COLCHESTER Hospital has denied parking permits have been rescinded, despite claims from staff.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has made only 1,000 parking spaces available for 3,000 members of staff at the Turner Road site following changes to parking.

But it has left some staff contemplating looking for other jobs because their travel time is too onerous.

One woman, who lives in Clacton, said: “I received an email saying I have been granted a permit until September 2019 and now this morning I have received an email to say I have had my permit declined.”

A trust spokesman said travel distances, shifts, on-call work, disability and working regularly off site were all considered when deciding who would get a parking permit.

READ MORE: Hospital staff: 'We will quit our jobs if unfair parking rules aren't changed'

He said: “If colleagues have an additional three hours travel time then we urge them to get in contact with our travel team so we can assist them in either making sure they’ve submitted all the necessary information in their application or in helping find out about public transport available.

“We’ve received 172 appeals out of 3,700 permit applications made.

“The permit application process did include criteria for colleagues who start early and finish late who will not be able to use public transport at these times.

“The trust is giving all staff who have not been given a permit a link to a personalised travel plan. This details all the options available to staff, some of which include walking part of the journey to a bus stop or train station.

“Where there is any walking it gives the number of calories burned.

“The plan also indicates the carbon footprint for a person travelling on each of the routes.”

Colchester Hospital is also believed to be considering laying on a Hopper bus to collect staff on route.

Some staff have also called on the hospital to introduce an interest-free loan scheme so people do not have to pay thousands of pounds up front for a train season ticket.

It has also transpired many received emails about the parking scheme a week after Colchester Hospital held a Time Matters week.

Staff said it was ironic they were being encouraged to spend their time wisely one week before having three hours added to their journey.