Parking tickets are being “handed out like confetti” at Stockton’s University Hospital of North Tees, it was claimed today.
Hospital chiefs have admitted that more than 85% of appeals to ParkingEye, the firm now running the health trust’s car parks, are upheld.
Among those successfully seeing their standard £70 parking tickets ripped up is 89-year-old Stockton pensioner George Elms, who was left upset by the charge.
Mr Elms had been taking his 86-year-old wife Moyra to the Stockton hospital’s A&E department after she suffered a fall last month.
His daughter June Ross said: “Due to his stress and age he purely forgot to pay.
“As you can imagine, my father was in a very distressed and vulnerable state.
“I believe that if the old system had still been in place he would have paid, as the barrier at exit would have reminded him.”
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust say the new system, introduced in August, has reduced and simplified parking tariffs.
Visitors get the first 20 minutes free, then pay £3 for 12 hours and £10 for a 28 day period.
The system uses automatic number plate recognition on entrance and exit, and checks if the appropriate tariff has been paid for the length of stay on site.
A furious Mrs Ross wrote to ParkingEye and the trust to appeal her father’s ticket, saying he was “an honest man” who has “never purposely left a car park without paying the set charge before”.
She requested the firm refund his fine “as a gesture of goodwill”.
On Friday, the trust told the Gazette that a letter doing just that was on its way to Mr Elms, signed by the chief executive.
His daughter welcomed the refund but said the new car parking system was “confusing” and causes stress for patients and their families trying to meet appointments.
“I do feel that some leeway should be given until users of the hospital become accustomed to the new system,” she said.
Another pensioner who made a simple mistake with his car registration number was landed with a £70 fine from ParkingEye and has also seen his fine scrapped.
John Puttick from Billingham
John Puttick, 87, from Billingham, punched in a ‘V’ instead of a ‘B’ when he was visiting North Tees Hospital.
“I did not realise I had made a mistake with the registration number until I received the parking charge notice a few days later,” he said.
Louise Baldock, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Stockton South, said “a lot of people” were complaining about the parking situation.
She has raised her concerns with the trust’s chief executive Alan Foster.
She said: “The trust has told me that 85% of fines are successfully appealed. That suggests the firm is too ready to fine people. They are issuing them like confetti.
“It is a very unpopular company which is beginning to damage the reputation of the hospital.”
She pointed out Government guidelines published in August “which make it clear that NHS organisations are responsible for the actions of private contractors who run car parks on their behalf”.
The standard £70 fine is reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
A spokesperson for ParkingEye said: “A charge becomes payable if the terms and conditions are not adhered to.
“We operate an audited appeals process and encourage people to appeal if they feel there are mitigating circumstances.
“Parking Eye is a member of the British Parking Association’s Approved Operator Scheme. Members of the BPA are required to follow a code of practice supported by motoring organisations and the DVLA.”
Associate director of estates and facilities, Peter Mitchell, at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said: “We have been using the ParkingEye system at the University Hospital of Hartlepool and the University Hospital of North Tees since August. As with any new system it can take a little bit of time to get used to.”
The chief executive of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has defended the system and ParkingEye.
Alan Foster
In a letter to Ms Baldock, Alan Foster said the trust was “obliged to manage our car parking facilities to ensure they are used efficiently and effectively”.
“The installation of new equipment at the trust has improved reliability, income from paid parking, reduced operational costs and simplified access and egress arrangements, the number of payment machines has increased from the previous system and more are planned,” he said.
“The automatic number plate systems monitor very accurately compliance with the rules the trust has determined to be fair and reasonable.
“There has been extensive signage displayed both externally and internally to inform visitors of these arrangements.
“Those patients travelling to hospital and in receipt of certain benefits may reclaim all costs associated with the journey through the healthcare travel cost scheme.”
Mr Foster said the trust and ParkingEye “understand that mistakes can happen and registration details may be inputted incorrectly”.
“It is also acknowledged that in the case of an emergency, making payment for parking may not be at the forefront of visitors’ minds.
“It is for this reason why ParkingEye has a dedicated appeals service with each appeal being looked at on a case by case basis.
“The trust requires of ParkingEye to uphold any appeals they receive in a fair and reasonable manner.
“ParkingEye will cancel charges where there is a genuine cause for appeal. Currently more than 85% of appeals submitted to ParkingEye from NHS clients are upheld.”
He added: “The company currently has zero sanctions against them from their accreditation body, are the largest provider of such systems in the country and are currently providing these services to 20 NHS trusts.”
