COVID-19 Staff FAQs: Car parking and transport

If your question is about an HR matter that isn't addressed here, please discuss this initially with your line manager who can then raise it with the HR consultant for your Division.

Some links are to documents on the OUH internal staff intranet: if you can't access the intranet, please email covidquestions@ouh.nhs.uk and we will send you the document you need.

Please remember guidance is likely to change rapidly, so check back to see if you have the most up-to-date version of a document.

Car parking and transport FAQs

Free staff car parking for COVID-19 - 'no permits required' trial

Following staff feedback, the free staff car parking which has been in place since 1 April for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer require staff to use the usual permit system.

On the JR site, staff will be able to use Car Park 1 (by Trauma building and Car Park 2A (by Maternity main entrance). All other public car parks will remain designated for patients and visitors only, including free disabled parking.

On the Churchill, NOC and Horton General sites, staff will be able to use all car parks except those designated for patients and visitors - there is no change on those sites in terms of which car parks are for staff and which car parks are for patients and visitors.

Car parks with the barriers down must be kept for visitors and, if you park in them, you will be asked to pay.

I already pay for a car parking permit. Do I still have to pay?

Current permit holders' salary deductions will stop until the COVID-19 emergency is over. For staff who have already paid for a permit, reimbursement will be arranged via Payroll.

I've heard there is free parking for keyworkers in Oxfordshire generally. What are the rules?

For the duration of the COVID-19 health emergency, for key workers only (including OUH staff) local councils have suspended charges for pay and display on street council parking bays, without time restriction or charge. These changes apply to all on-street parking and also to open, council-run car parks. Please place a sign in your car window saying that you are a keyworker - no other proof needed.

To ensure the public are kept safe and that the roads remain clear for emergency and essential services, councils will continue to carry out crucial parking enforcement locally, and the normal restrictions in residents' parking schemes and on double yellow lines apply.

What about the park and ride car parks?

For the duration of the COVID-19 health emergency, all parking charges have been lifted from Oxford's Seacourt, Thornhill, Redbridge and Oxford Parkway Park and Ride car parks.

However, fare charges will still apply for connecting bus transport in and out of the city.

Peartree Park and Ride is temporarily closed.

What bus services are still running?

Oxford Bus Company is running 30-minute services on most routes.

Stagecoach is running a Sunday service on some services and reduced timetables on others. Please check your route.

The buses are still running, albeit on reduced timetables, and so staff who normally travel to work by bus can continue to do so - passenger numbers are low and so social distancing should be possible.

Can I get a refund on my bus pass/season ticket?

As buses are still running, refunds for bus passes / season tickets will not be issued unless the revised timetable means you are unable to get to or from work. This is the only exemption.

The Trust is committed to supporting the bus companies through this current situation. Please do not go to the Car Parking Office to ask for a refund; they are not able to issue them: email buspassinformation@ouh.nhs.uk

Is the shuttle bus still running to the timetable on the intranet?

Yes.