A HEALTH watchdog leader has urged hospital staff to "stop whingeing" as he launched a savage attack on the nursing profession.

The outburst by patient watchdog boss Nigel Robinson is the latest shot in the row over controversial plans which could force hospital workers at Blackburn Infirmary to 'park-and-ride' their way to work.

Nurses have expressed anger that they may have to park their cars at nearby Queen's Park Hospital and catch a minibus to their workplace.

But Mr Robinson, a former nurse himself, accused them of moaning and told them to "put up or shut up."

Health trust bosses in Blackburn are investigating methods of easing the crippling parking congestion in and around the infirmary.

One option involves 80 parking spaces at the hospital being set aside for patients and visitors only, to use between 7am and 4pm.

The park-and-ride alternative would then be offered to staff, patients and visitors to park on 100 spaces at Queen's Park.

A free bus would operate on a 20-minute circular basis between the hospitals.

Among the nurses' concerns is that the proposals would add time onto their working day

But Mr Robinson, chief officer of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council, said patients should always come first.

He said: "Hospitals are there for the convenience of patients and not the convenience of staff.

"The trust is doing its best to relieve the situation and I find it incredible the nurses are whingeing like this.

"The nurses work during the day and their cars are taking up vital space which could be occupied by patients. This would add about 10 minutes on to their day.

"Parking is a dreadful problem at the infirmary, but it is always the patients who end up doing the running around."

The trust has sent out questionnaires to all staff to get their views on the proposals.

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