NURSES say they have had their cars damaged and received threatening letters after parking on streets around Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

They say many staff are no longer being given permits to park at the over-crowded hospital and so are left with little choice but to park on residential streets nearby in Warndon Villages.

We have reported residents' concerns about hospital staff parking on roads around the hospital, causing difficulties for people trying to get out of their driveways and pedestrians to have to step out into the road.

But nurses say they have no choice as they are no longer being issued with permits to park at the hospital and for parents or those working shifts the alternative of the hospital park-and-ride service is not always possible.

One 46-year-old nurse, who lives in Worcester, says she has returned to find her car damaged on three occasions.

"One day I drove around for 20 minutes trying to find a parking place," she said.

"I parked on a road around the hospital and came back to find a note on my car saying they had taken a photograph and would be reporting me to the DVLA.

"I have had three flat tyres in six weeks, with two large nails and a screw."

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs the hospital, says parking is a "major challenge" and that permit numbers are limited to ensure spaces for patients and visitors.

But one chemotherapy nurse told the Worcester News the situation is making staff feel "undervalued".

The 29-year-old, from Malvern, has even resorted to putting letters through residents' doors offering to rent space on their driveway for £10-a-week.

The single mother says she was told a week before Christmas that her permit had expired, after her card failed to open the barrier.

"Pretty much all the nurses that I'm speaking to are affected by this," she said.

"We have no other choice [parking on roads], we don't want to upset residents.

"It makes me feel completely undervalued and question my commitment to this trust.

"I have worked for the trust for five years and it's never been a problem getting a permit."

She said park and ride buses only arrive every 30 minutes in the afternoon and that if she works late, she faces waiting for another half hour as a result.

"It does not take into account people who have children. If you have children you can't factor that into your day," she said.

Kelly Withers, who also works at the hospital, said: "Many staff who work 12-hour shifts finishing at 8pm have also had parking permits removed. It feels like a kick in the teeth."

Ms Withers said the last park-and-ride bus leaves before the nurses on this shift can get out of the hospital. 

"Often we stay later than our shift if busy with poorly patients and we also are required to remove uniforms and get changed back into our normal clothes after our shifts," she said.

"The likelihood of us being stranded at the hospital after a 12-hour shift is very real because to catch the last park and ride bus would be pushing it even if you left work on time.

"Does this then mean I will have to pay for a taxi if I miss that bus, just to get my car after a shift?"

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust said that day staff who work at a single site or live within 1.5 miles of the hospital are not normally entitled to permits.

"In common with many NHS Trusts, parking at Worcestershire Royal represents a major challenge causing frustration for patients, visitors and staff," they said.

"A staff car parking policy is in place to manage the number of staff parking on site and to safeguard spaces for patients and visitors.

"There is a clear policy that allows staff the right to appeal against any refusal to use parking facilities."

Travel to the park-and-ride facility, which offers 200 free parking spaces at Sixways, is available in emergency situations, the spokesman added.