‘Disgusting’ - readers react with anger to dad hit twice by hospital parking fines

THE news that a dad who dropped his nurse daughter off at work at Coventry’s hospital and got home to a £100 parking fine has angered readers.

Robert Blythe, from Keresley, took his daughter to work for her shift in A&E and then returned later to pick her up.

It’s something he has done regularly, and he told CoventryLive he’s never had a problem before.

But recently he has encountered two separate problems with the ANPR cameras at the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.

One time he received a fine for staying over his time limit - by 18 seconds.

Then he received another fine, saying he had stayed nearly 13 hours.

He said: “It has really angered me, two fines in a matter of weeks.

“It was one extreme to the other, also receiving a letter to say I had stayed for 12 hours and 50 minutes.

“It must have caught me going in to drop her off in the morning, not going out, and not coming back in, but then captured me going out in the evening after picking her up on the exit camera.”

Here’s what some our readers’ reactions from our Facebook page.

Sarah Gawman: “I’ve had 3 fines for just being picked up from work... its a disgrace. I’ve contested them but was just told that they have reissued them. You work nearly 13 hours a day and that’s the thanks you get for helping people.”

Adam Harmsworth: “Make parking free and take the ownership of the car park back into public hands!” Samantha Mayor-Owen: “This is disgusting... I moved from Coventry to north Wales and we have FREE hospital parking. Welsh NHS is in dire need of the money, but they realise that people just don’t have that, and why rob those who are sick or injured. Staff should most definitely not have to pay, they don’t get paid enough as it is!!!” Dawn Wigmore: “This totally ridiculous parking scheme needs binning off. It’s a rip off, always has been. I’d not pay a single fine from this place, it’s immoral with the staffing system for parking is just as bad.”

Cliff Jesson: “Surely there is a better way, this obviously isn’t working.” Claire Williams: “This is completely out of order this car park the money it takes is phenomenal something needs doing about these private over-priced car parks! Makes me so cross.” Jo Powell: “Disgusting there should be more spaces, nurses should not have to pay at any hospital and perhaps they should rethink the charges £1 a visit for visitors and patients.” Cheryl Sparkes: “It’s ridiculous. Our lifts are being fined for picking us up from work too.”

This totally ridiculous parking scheme needs binning off. It’s a rip off, always has been