Hospital Disabled Parking

[batman1956]

Good morning. Our local hospital has woefully inadequate parking resulting in the disabled spaces being placed quite a distance from the entrance. The remedy for this is that benches have been placed so that disabled people can rest during the long walk. However my wife finds it impossible to complete the distance on foot and so parked her car in a "drop off only" space (displaying her blue badge). On her return to the car a red notice had been placed on it as a warning notice with no fee payable. The problem is now she has to go there again and will need to almost certainly park in the same place as there is no reasonable alternative. Where does she stand if a penalty notice is placed on her car?

[sailor sam]

As it is probably a private firm which 'police' the car parking, it won't/can't be a penalty which she will receive, it will be an invoice for a parking charge. If it was me I would approach the hospital admin and pose the problem to them. Problem is though, that unlike most other parking scenario's, by parking in the drop off point, you could be causing a problem to someone else who is in a wheel chair for example.

 

Is it not possible to get someone else to drive the car and drop your wife off close to the entrance while the driver parks the car in the disabled bays?

[sameagle]

A hospital porter, [do they still have them?], to collect the patient from disabled bay, with a wheelchair, perhaps?

[batman1956]

Thanks for the replies. The car is only insured for 2 drivers the other one being me. I am unable to take time off work and if I did it would be a financial burden. While I agree that using the drop off point is not the best solution the hospital does have obligations under section 5 of the DDA to provide suitable parking. It is a catch 22 situation

[sameagle]

I believe that hospitals will provide transport, car service or ambulance, if necessary, but your return time needs to be a bit "flexible"!

[batman1956]

There are strict criteria for transport due to funding.

[dpick]

When my wife and I were both in wheelchairs due to RTA thankfully both on way to recovery the hospital were very understanding they arranged for us to ring security the day before we had an appointment when they met us and put us in the nearest staff car-park and took us in our wheelchairs to the department we were going to.

 

Give the hospital a ring if like ours they will be glad to help.

 

dpick

[batman1956]

Thanks I hadn't thought of that.

[reallymadwoman]

My local hospital has a similar parking situation. If pre-arranged they will ensure a porter and wheelchair meet you at the parking area, otherwise anyone accompanying the patient can go and collect a wheelchair from reception.

[Surfer01]

That sounds as if you are describing Parking Eye at Worcesetr Royal Hospital where disabled parking bays are few and far between. They also charge for a BB to park on hospital grounds. I guess parking on the yellow lines may be an alternative?

[peanutsallergy]

That sounds as if you are describing Parking Eye at Worcesetr Royal Hospital where disabled parking bays are few and far between. They also charge for a BB to park on hospital grounds. I guess parking on the yellow lines may be an alternative?

 

As an alternative, it's there with the access roads, the pavement, and the ambulance bays.

 

The problem with using the drop off point as a free for all, is what happens when someone else uses the drop off, double parks, and blocks you in for several hours.

 

Pre arranged pick up is the best way.