Taxi driver delivering emergency bloods fumes as he is hit with parking fine
A taxi driver delivering emergency blood donations to a hospital was hit with a parking fine.
The delivery driver, known as Gary, works part-time for a firm in partnership with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to help deliver emergency bloods and x-rays.
Earlier this month he parked next to an ambulance as he took samples inside Manchester Royal Infirmary with a sign in the car window explaining his task.
He returned minutes later to find a fixed penalty notice on his window.
Gary said: “I've never had anything like this before, I'm delivering blood, I'm working.
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"We've got people's records and bloods, I don’t think we should be parking in pay and display spaces to transport them, especially when it's an emergency."
The ticket was received at Manchester Royal Infirmary (Getty Images)“I dropped the bloods off and must have been there for about 10 minutes before I came back to see a sticker on my screen.
“I got a call to take some emergency transplant bloods from the pathology lab at Whiston Hospital in Prescott to MRI. I parked in an ambulance bay next to an ambulance, put the sign in the window and went into the hospital.”
Gary told Manchester Evening News he approached a ParkingEye worker who told him he had received a ticket as he had parked in a blue badge spot - and because the sign wasn't visible in the window.
Gary added: “I hadn't even opened the car at this point.
“I pointed out that the sign was still in the window and if they checked back on CCTV, they would see it's there.”
The letter then informed Gary that he had 14 days to pay the £35 fine, before it would rise to the full amount of £70.
His wife paid the fine in full on Wednesday morning.
ParkingEye said Gary parked in a 'no parking zone', which included patient transport drivers.
A Parkingeye spokesman said: "Parkingeye has partnered with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust for five years to significantly improve how its car parks operate.
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"During this time there has been investment in modern consumer-facing systems which has enhanced accessibility and made parking at the hospital easier and safer for staff, patients and visitors. The system is designed to ensure the efficiency and smooth operation of the hospital by ensuring that patients, visitors and staff park in their allocated car parks.
"There is clear signage throughout giving patients and visitors guidance on how to park responsibly during their visit to the hospital.
"The motorist received a parking charge notice after he parked in an area reserved for ambulances only.
“The prominent signage clearly states that it is a no parking zone with no parking or waiting at any time, including blue badge holders and patient transport drivers.
"Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge. If anyone has mitigating circumstances then we would encourage them to appeal."
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