CITY Parking has been urged to return thousands of pounds it charged for medical and social care staff to park while receiving their coronavirus jab.

The group, which is run by Glasgow City Council, previously arranged a deal to offer discounted parking rates for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, as well as Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), to purchase tickets on behalf of its staff using the NHS Louisa Jordan’s car park while being vaccinated.

It’s understood the cost was around £6,000 between the two organisations.

Thousands of tickets are understood to have been purchased, however, staff still had to pay up to £4 to use the facilities.

READ MORE: NHS staff jab parking to be made free at Glasgow hospital

As previously revealed by the Glasgow Times, the decision was overturned last week and is now free for medical and social care staff receiving the vaccine.

Opposition councillors have called for cash forked over by the NHS and the HSCP to be returned.

Councillor Paul Carey, who serves on the council’s City Parking group, said: “I am calling on City Parking to return the money that was paid to date by the NHS and Glasgow HSCP to allow this money to go back into supporting the delivery of frontline services.

“If this is not possible, then the money City Parking received from the NHS and HSCP should be donated to the Lord Provost’s fund for children.”

The board’s chairwoman Elaine McSporran announced last week the board should “provide as much assistance as possible” to the NHS by offering free staff parking.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary, as well as Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, have already lifted charges until March.

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A spokesman for the council said: “Agreements were previously reached with the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow HSCP to allow health and social care attending the hospital to park free of charge at the Hydro car park.

“The agreements meant both organisations received significantly reduced rates for parking and they were content to cover costs on behalf of their staff.

“As vaccination ramps up we have moved to make parking at the Louisa Jordon free for anyone who needs it.”