STAFF are considering quitting Colchester’s walk-in centre due to new parking rules, a whistleblower has claimed.

Since August, all patients and staff using the car park at the North Colchester Healthcare Centre have to pay for stays over one hour.

Landlord Community Health Partnerships introduced the charges when some services from now-shut Essex County Hospital moved in to the primary care centre.

READ MORE: Parking charges to come in at Colchester walk-in centre

Now staff who work at the Turner Road facility have to pay up to £10 per day if they wish to park at the premises.

An anonymous whistleblower contacted the Gazette saying staff had been told “not to advertise the fact they have to pay”.

They said: “They receive a reduction for the parking but it still amounts to nearly £2,500 a year in parking charges and they can claim some back through a complicated claims process.

“The advice is to park at Colchester Park and Ride and after a long shift wait for buses or make their own way there.

Many feel unsafe doing this.

“The worst part of all of this is the gagging order on nurses with action threatened if anyone talks.

“Many are planning on leaving and that will plunge the service into chaos.”

Care UK runs the North Colchester Healthcare Centre, which deals with minor injuries and illnesses.

A spokesman said the decision to introduce car parking charges was made by the hospital rather than the health centre, causing “concern among patients and colleagues”.

He said: “No-one has been asked not to talk about the charges and colleagues, in fact, frequently find themselves having to explain the charges to patients, despite having had no control over the decision.

“We do offer to meet 50 per cent of the increased parking costs faced by colleagues and these payments are being processed through our usual systems without problems.

“No-one has either left the service, or told us they intend to leave, as a result of the charges, however unwelcome they may be.”

Community Health Partnerships said the charges were brought in due to “inappropriate” parking by the public and commuters.

The firm said discounts and permits were available.