Residents claim hospital staff have been having sex in Powell Avenue

by Jamie Bullen

NHS staff have been caught having sex while parked near a hospital, shocked residents claim.

People living in Dartford's Powell Avenue say they have witnessed staff from Darent Valley Hospital engaging in sex acts in their street.

They claim they have caught couples in the act in broad daylight - while they were wearing their NHS uniforms and ID badges.

The allegations of lewd behaviour in the quiet residential street have intensified a bitter parking row between residents and hospital staff.

Residents are frustrated with Darent Valley Hospital workers, saying their road is clogged by employees parking their cars to avoid paying.

They say the issues have been ongoing for more than a year and were deepened when health bosses slashed 700 parking permits at the hospital last May.

But they have taken their complaints to the police because of sightings of lewd behaviour by what they claim are NHS staff in parked cars.

Kelly Purvor, 29, said she was “disgusted” after seeing what she believed were NHS staff engaged in a sex act in a parked car outside her home when she returned from work.

She reported the incident to police, who said they traced the driver and questioned him before taking no action because there was no evidence.

Ms Purvor said: “We are trying to raise young children and we don’t want to explain to them what is happening in these cars. I called the police because it is disgusting behaviour.

“I understand there is a lot of staff to look after, but tougher action needs to be taken to stop them parking in our road because some people are bringing down the reputation of the entire hospital.”

Powell Avenue is part of the Darenth Village Park estate. Residents say those indulging in lewd behaviour have been wearing NHS uniform and ID badges.

Michelle Webb, 40, who lives a few doors away, added she was also suspicious of staff members after two employees were together inside a car for more than two hours.

Residents have left notes on their cars in Powell Avenue, Dartford

She said: “It was more than a kiss and a cuddle. I don’t want to accuse anyone of doing something they shouldn’t but it does make you suspicious and behaviour like that in daylight hours on a residential street is wrong.”

A hospital spokesman refused to comment on the claims, adding that police were not investigating.

A Kent Police spokesman said the Dartford neighbourhood police team was monitoring the situation.

However, chief executive Susan Acott acknowledged there had been parking issues in Powell Avenue and backed calls for restrictions during the day.

Staff parking permits have been slashed at Darent Valley Hospital

She said: “I am sorry to hear about the difficulties caused by the cars in Powell Avenue. People who live in the vicinity or hospitals, schools and train stations are often troubled by cars parked outside of their houses at peak times. We support the use of limited parking restrictions, Monday to Friday.”

Dartford council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite said he was due to meet Ms Acott to discuss the problem.

He said: “The hospital needs to take the issue of staff parking more seriously. In conversations I’ve had there seems to be a difference of opinion but they need to move the most and in my view it rests wholly with them.”