ANGRY doctors and nurses at Fairfield Hospital found their cars clamped after managers suddenly brought in a new get-tough policy.

They had to fork-out £50 apiece to free their cars and later accused management of cheating, complaining that clamping was not due to start until March 1.

But yesterday (Thurs Feb 22) Bury Health Care NHS Trust chief executive Mr Philip Bacon was unrepentant saying: "Staff were told at least one day before. It was always our intention to introduce clamping by March at the latest."

However, according to official papers and a press statement sent to the Bury Times, clamping was clearly scheduled to begin on March 1.

The clampers suddenly moved onto the Rochdale Old Road complex on Wednesday (Feb 20), the day the Earl of Derby officially opened the hospital's new multi-million pound development.

Around a dozen cars belonging to medical staff were clamped because they were not parked in designated spaces. Some were released without having to pay the £50 fee after an outcry by angry drivers.

Management insisted the clamping had been introduced because of the actions of some "irresponsible" drivers.

One member of the medical staff who contacted the Bury Times described how cars belonging to eight nurses were clamped. One off-duty nurse, who had just called in to help, had to borrow £50 to release her car.

Although the nurses admit there is car parking available they say the area is not properly lit and they feel unsafe walking to their cars late at night.

Another member of the medical team contacted the Bury Times after the vehicles of doctors, including one who was said to have just completed a 36-hour stint, were clamped.

There was no apology forthcoming from chief executive Mr Bacon. "Trust employees were notified at least a day before that clamping would be introduced with immediate effect. And there are signposts everywhere.

"We had to do it because of the irresponsible way some drivers park. They are posing a very real risk to patients and even frustrating disabled drivers by parking in their bays."

Mr Bacon said that car park security was being improved and lighting introduced.

Paul Reynolds, chief officer of Bury's Community Health Council, recognised the pressure on available spaces but described some of the parking as "shocking".

Another clamping victim was father-to-be Brendan Cusack who found his car had been clamped after rushing his partner Hayley Miller to Fairfield Hospital's maternity unit.

Mr Cusack, of Winchester Road, Radcliffe, said: "I'd only left my car for a couple of minutes to see Hayley into hospital. I was going to move it as soon as I knew she was okay.

"I was in such a rush, that I didn't see the clamping warning notices at all."

Despite pleading with hospital bosses and the clamping firm, National Clamps, Mr Cusack had to wait from 3pm until early evening for his brother to come with the money so he could get his car freed.

The controversial policy has also angered some drivers who claim there are not enough car parking spaces to accommodate patients, visitors and medical staff. Richard Barlow, of Haslam Street, Bury, has to visit the hospital once a month, he said: "There is just not enough car parking space and some patients cannot walk from the car park to the hospital.

"I think there will be a lot of elderly people being clamped and they will not come back to the hospital.

"I have to go back to the hospital in March and will have to see what it is like before I make a decision whether to carry on going."

However, a spokesman for Bury Health Care NHS Trust said that additional temporary car parking spaces were provided last October, bringing the number of spaces up to 1,157.

He said the hospital was one of the very few which provided patients and visitors with free parking.