As a neonatal nurse at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Sharon Johnstone works long shifts caring for premature and sick newborns.
Living in an East Lothian village 30 miles from her place of work means that she relies on her car to get to and from those 12-plus hour shifts.
But now her parking permit could be revoked due to a lack of space at the hospital after planning officials restricted the number of bays for the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People which is set to open at the Little France site in July.
READ MORE: Edinburgh's £150m new Sick Kids hospital delayed by six months
Mrs Johnstone said: "For the last 11 years I've had a parking permit which I pay for monthly. The new sick kids hospital has been built on our site on the footprint of what was the hospitals largest car park. No additional parking has been built.
"If by a miracle we manage to get a space in the car parks it will cost staff upwards of £86 per month to park. My day shifts end at 8.30pm and the buses to the park and ride at Shawfair, which is the nearest parking to the site, run a 30 minute service at this time.
"Now picture every staff nurse, CSW and auxiliary in both hospitals trying to get on that bus!"
Mrs Johnstone said that staff have concerns for their safety after two women were alleged to have been sexually assaulted in February. There have been also been reports of vandalism in the area.
The new hospital will take staff numbers up to around 30,000, all vying for 1,125 spaces. There are understood to be an extra 948 public spaces available.
The new £150m Sick Children's facility was due to open last year but faced a series of delays.
Mrs Johnstone said: "Staff were informed via email and those I have spoken to personally are concerned and upset. I am currently waiting for the decision on my staff pass.
"Staff concerns are focused on two main areas: their safety when travelling to and from the site, particularly late at night, and cost. Full time members of staff will pay in excess of £86 per month."
Nearly 11,000 people have signed a petition launched by nurse Emma Burns in the hopes the matter will be discussed at Holyrood.
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Ms Burns wrote: "This is completely unacceptable, this issue should have been anticipated well in advance and should not be at the potential risk of staff members- many staff who travel from out with Edinburgh and the Lothians have no option but to drive to work.
"Staff will now be expected to pay in excess of £7 per shift (If there are parking spaces available) with no increase in their salary or will have to find another area to park in which leaves them vulnerable and open to abuse or worse - there have been two recent assualts on females in the area and vandalism of their property from unhappy neighbouring residents."
To sign the petition, click here
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