NHS workers told to hitch a lift

THOUSANDS of health workers are being told to car share in a fresh bid to tackle parking problems at NHS Lothian sites.

The health board has joined the internet-based Liftshare scheme which allows staff to find colleagues making the same journeys as them and share travel costs.

There are 28,000 NHS Lothian staff based around 300 sites and it is hoped the initiative will alleviate parking and congestion problems in places such as the city's Western General Hospital.

Health chiefs also estimate that the move will save the average worker up to £1000 a year.

Other big city employers with similar schemes include the Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Airport.

Environmental groups today welcomed the move by NHS Lothian and suggested the scheme could one day be extended to patients.

Mark Sydenham, spokesman for Friends of the Earth Edinburgh, said: "This is a very positive step from NHS Lothian. The NHS accounts for about five per cent of all traffic on the UK roads, once you take into account patients, staff and ambulances travelling around.

"They make a significant contribution to congestion and pollution in and around Edinburgh so I hope there is a big take-up.

"There's no reason why the tripshare couldn't be extended to patients in time but there are obvious complications with this."

Over the next seven years, road traffic in south-east Scotland is predicted to increase by 16 per cent thanks to a growing population and increasing car ownership rates. By 2015, time lost to congestion is projected to increase by 53 per cent, according to regional transport body Sestran.

Iain Sneddon, NHS Lothian transport and travel manager, said: "With rising fuel prices, increased congestion and pressure on parking spaces, we want to help staff save money and reduce the number of cars on the road.

"Car sharing can also take a lot of the hassle out of journeys, which must be a good thing.

"Hopefully this system will make it a lot easier."