STAFF at the Alexandra Hospital are struggling to make work on time due to an increasing parking problem, writes Becky Procter.

Urgent action is being called for to ease the situation, which has meant staff having to wait up to an hour to park.

The Redditch Advertiser has reported the plight of patients having trouble parking and fearing appointments would be missed.

But hospital union spokesman Nina Wood-Ford said if staff could not park, there would be nobody to deal with appointments.

She said: "Staff are needed to run the hospital.

"The other day I went to the hospital at 11.15am and it was half an hour before I could park.

"There were no spaces anywhere - it was completely full.

"It is because people are coming from Kidderminster and Worcester, travelling from site to site."

Mrs Wood-Ford said the car park should be looked at as a priority for Worcestershire NHS Acute Hospitals Trust.

She added: "Something has to be done now but I don't know what the short-term answer is."

Redditch and Bromsgrove Community Health Council has also expressed concern.

CHC deputy chief officer Moira Morris said: "Our biggest worry is for the disabled drivers who need to park near the hospital.

"Vehicles from the contractors working on the roof and the accident and emergency department are adding to the problem."

A trust spokesman said: "The trust is looking at increasing the number of spaces for staff and patients."