Shropshire cancer patients hit with hospital car parking fines
Cancer patients undergoing hospital treatment in Shrewsbury have been stung with parking fines even though charges for leaving their cars should be waived.
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital apologised today to long-term patients using the Lingen Davies Centre who have been mistakenly fined.
Volunteers working at the hospital in its coffee shop and other public services have also received penalty notices, despite also being eligible for free parking.
Judy Roberts, 73, from Shrewsbury, who is having treatment for breast cancer, said: "The current parking system is not fit for purpose.
"I had to go to the Path lab the other Monday and then a couple of days later I received a parking charge notice despite displaying my parking exemption certificate in the car.
"All cancer patients receive parking exemption certificates to display when attending the Lingen Davies Centre.
"I know I am not the only one to have received a charge notice. I know dozens of other patients all experiencing the same thing. It just isn't on. It adds to the stress and anxiety of already very sick people."
Ms Roberts claims dozens of patients received charge notices three weeks ago from car park management company CP Plus.
The patients had been fined £40 to be paid within 28 days, with the fine reduced to £15 if paid in 14 days.
"I emailed the company expressing my concerns and suggested they apologised to those affected," said Ms Roberts.
"In spite of this patients received final demands."
A volunteer, who did not want to be named, said: "Volunteers from the hospital received letters asking for £40.
"I approached CP Plus but I haven't got anywhere with it."
Neil Nisbet, finance director at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: "A large number of patients and visitors to our hospitals are eligible for free or discounted parking.
"In order for the system to recognise they are eligible for exemptions, their registration number needs to be logged on the system. Unfortunately, it is clear this has not always happened and this has led to some of our patients and visitors receiving a parking charge notice.
"The trust and CP Plus would like to apologise for any distress this has caused."
