COVID-19 Staff FAQs: Car parking and transport

If your question is about an OUH 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 are a staff member and cannot 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.

Getting to work

Please can I have an update on the current situation?

From Monday 10 August the pre-COVID permit system for staff car parking on all OUH hospital sites will be reintroduced. We are still offering free parking for all staff with valid permits.

This is because an increasing number of clinical services are resuming as part of our COVID-19 Recovery Plan, and we have introduced 'Rule of One' visiting arrangements which means that more car parking spaces need to be made available for patients and visitors.

Car Park 2A at the JR will return to patient and visitor use on 10 August 2020 in order to support the increased clinical activity on site.

There is a range of options available for staff based at the JR, NOC and Churchill who do not have permits, and so will not be able to park on site from 10 August 2020.

We would encourage people who can use other means of transport to travel to work to do so - and line managers should continue to support home working wherever possible in line with national guidance.

If you have regular daytime shifts, we would ask you to use the overflow parking we have organised at Oxsrad Sports Centre in Headington where possible. This is free to OUH staff via the City Council permit system outlined below.

Since 25 July 2020 the government has changed its advice on public transport and advises that where walking and cycling is not possible then public transport should be considered. Bus services are beginning to return to their pre-COVID bus timetables.

Oxford City Council has also made their car parks free to our staff as part of their commute, or parking while on duty. This includes free Park & Ride facilities for our staff until the Government policy on free parking for NHS staff changes.

For more information, including how to apply for a parking permit for all of these sites, please see the intranet announcement.

We are also asking staff to cycle to work where possible, or use Park & Ride and then cycle to work.

The Trust has schemes in place to support staff with the costs of cycling, and 150 additional cycle racks are being added to each hospital site over the coming weeks. We are also working to improve cycling storage facilities in due course.

Staff parking

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

Oxford's Park & Ride car parks are free for all users until 31 August 2020, and we will keep you updated with changes as we receive notice of them.

The pay machines currently have covers over them. Bus fares still apply for connecting buses in and out of the city.

In all other council car parks, you may park for free when you are working (but not for leisure, such as shopping). To apply for a special permit, please email transport@ouh.nhs.uk. Please allow five working days to receive it.

If you do not register, or fail to display this permit, you will receive a Parking Contract Notice (PCN / parking ticket).

My permit ran out during the pandemic. What do I need to do?

From 10 August 2020 only vehicles with valid permits are entitled to park in staff car parking.

Please ensure that you apply for a permit as soon as possible. There is currently a waiting list for permits, so you should use one of the other options available until you have a valid permit.

Is there any prioritisation process for parking applications?

No. All renewals or new applications are processed in the order received in the online process.

Can I get a permit/renew at the car parking offices?

No. The process is online only.

If I don't get the permit in time, can I use the visitor car parks?

No. Staff are not permitted to park in visitor car parks.

Can I use a 'blue ticket' in a visitor car park until my permit comes through?

No. Staff are not permitted to park in visitor car parks.

Patient parking

Can the car park machines be made contactless?

This is under consideration, but will not happen quickly. Some contractors are still reluctant to come on site.

Buses and Park & Ride

What bus services are still running?

Increased services are now running on most routes.

Please follow the new travel guidelines.

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: the rules on face coverings apply to the shuttle bus as well as other public transport.