28 July 2023 , 12:34
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A terminally ill man who was slapped with a £25 parking fine at a hospital is warning other patients 'will die' because of the 'inhumane' parking policy.
Kim Culley, 75, was given a parking ticket when he parked on double yellow lines at the hospital he visits weekly for end-of-life treatment. Kim has stage four lung cancer and struggles with his mobility. Although he has a blue badge, Royal Stoke University Hospital's car park is private, which means national rules of parking on single or double-yellow lines with a badge for up to three hours don't apply.
Kim, says he often struggles to find a space and is left with no choice but to park on double yellow lines to avoid missing his appointment.
Kim told StokeonTrentLive: “If I go to a supermarket and see the disabled parking is full, I have the option to drive to another supermarket. When I’m at the hospital, I can’t drive to another hospital, I have no choice." I have stage four lung cancer and mobility is a major issue for me. I have a blue badge that allows me to park on double-yellow lines.
"For two years I have been having treatment at the Royal Stoke. A few months ago I had to attend the cancer ward to get a blood transfusion. I was unable to find a parking space near the cancer ward entrance so I parked on double yellow lines but advised reception that I was blue-badged on double yellows. She said it was OK and not to worry.
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“Two weeks ago, I parked on double yellows, again for a transfusion, and I had a ticket. I paid it immediately and then appealed. I assumed it was a mistake. I always park so I’m not causing an obstruction and emergency vehicles can pass. I’d parked in the same place maybe a dozen times before and never got a ticket.”
Kim, who lives in Leek, Staffordshire, added: “I said I had a blue badge, I was exempt. They said ‘Well no, everybody has to pay irrespective'.” He then noticed a sign in the hospital foyer warning drivers that blue badge holders are not exempt from double-yellow line restrictions. He says a park-and-ride shuttle bus would help.
Kim added: “I’m staggered. What are we supposed to do?” The hospital is the one place I'd expect to be looked after. The service I get inside is phenomenal. I don't want to abuse the blue badge, I only use it in an emergency. Unfortunately, if I cannot park my treatment will stop and I will die. It’s frightening.
“The problem is, the population has outgrown the facilities and the hospital is limited to the ground it has. There are always cars patrolling around the car park, the second one car leaves another takes its place. When you go to a hospital, you’re normally traumatised already, your stress levels are high and to be confronted with parking penalties is wrong.”
The Royal Stoke has defended the issuing of the parking fine.
Royal Stoke director of estates, facilities and PFI Lorraine Whitehead told the Mirror: “We are sorry if anyone visiting the Royal Stoke has difficulty finding a parking space. We provide 911 public car parking spaces for patients and visitors, including more than 200 dedicated disability spaces around the hospital site. In addition, there are drop-off points at all of our main entrances to help with ease of access.
“Anybody parking on yellow lines, either with a blue badge on display or not, has always received a parking charge notice. This is not a recent change to parking policy and is to prevent any vehicles blocking access for emergency vehicles and to allow access and egress for all patients and visitors. We work with our partner APCOA which is on hand to help and support during busy times to help find available spaces.”