Formally free car parks have been time restricted, forcing workers to walk longer distances.

In an email to staff, Ballarat Health Service chief executive Dale Fraser said the changes had a great impact on the hospital precinct.

“You may have noticed that the council has introduced a series of parking changes around the hospital precinct,” the email said.

“It would seem to me that the impact of these changes are far greater than they may have initially envisaged.

“I’ll report back next week on any outcomes from the meeting."

Hospital staff have said they are concerned about the long distances they must walk after dark following parking changes near the hospital.

Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh said council would continue to work with Ballarat Health Service to look at solutions to the car parking problem.

“We certainly have met with them – they were going to back and chat with staff,” she said.

“We want to continue to working with them.”

Cr McIntosh has previously criticised the health service for not doing more to address the parking situation for its staff.

She said car parking in Ballarat would become more challenging as the municipality’s population continued to grow.

Ballarat Health Service did not respond to requests for comment before The Courier went to print.