A LONG campaign led by the Globe to see extra car parking introduced at Wirral's main hospital has been successful, we can announce this evening.

In 2017 we launched a petition calling for more parking spaces at Arrowe Park Hospital - it was backed by almost 10,000 readers and championed by Birkenhead MP Frank Field.

The campaign was sparked after we were contacted by nurses who  work at the hospital and told us the parking crisis was so acute security guards had turned them away from on-site patient and visitor parking.

Wirral Globe:

Birkenhead MP Frank Field and hospital trust chief executive Janelle Holmes

It meant the nurses were having to fork-out £10 per day in parking fees just to get into work.

READ> Hospital bosses receive Globe petition, promise action

They also expressed safety concerns over parking in a location outside the hospital grounds during night shifts due to a spate of attacks in the area.

The initiative ran into problems with the Government though after NHS Trusts were warned by ministers to tightly control their capital spending.

But after an insistent letter from Mr Field, the Chief Financial Officer of NHS England,  Julian Kelly, has agreed that funding can be "unlocked" for the most urgent capital needs.

Now the hospital trust has revealed 200 brand new car park spaces are to be created.

Janelle Holmes, chief executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, told the Globe: “We know car parking at Arrowe Park Hospital is an issue for patients, visitors and staff, which is why I am really pleased that we have been able to secure funding in order to create additional car parking spaces.  

“The funding will enable us to provide 200 extra spaces, in addition to 50 that the Trust had already planned. 

“We are now working with council colleagues in developing the scheme so that the extra spaces can be available from spring 2020.”

Wirral Globe:

Arrowe Park Hospital has long suffered major parking problems

Mr Field said: "This all blew up in 2017 after the staff told us of the difficulties they were experiencing.

"So I am really pleased that finally the campaign has paid-off.

"I would like to thank all the thousands of people who signed the Globe petition.

"And it just goes to show that even though it might take a bit of extra time never give up.

"The Globe campaign has really achieved a great result in the end for staff and patients at Arrowe Park Hospital."