Disabled bays 'Being abused' at Welwyn Garden City hospital
A TAXI driver has slammed NHS bosses for not regulating the use of a hospital's disabled parking bays. Allan Matthews says he has seen the same NHS worker twice in recent weeks parked in a blue badge space at WGC's QE2 Hospital. The worker was clearly
A TAXI driver has slammed NHS bosses for not regulating the use of a hospital's disabled parking bays.
Allan Matthews says he has seen the same NHS worker twice in recent weeks parked in a blue badge space at WGC's QE2 Hospital.
The worker was "clearly not disabled" when Mr Matthews saw him enter the hospital.
The 49-year-old had taxied a passenger, who had a disabled blue badge, to the Howlands site, for treatment.
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As there were no available disabled spaces, Mr Matthews had to park in the main car park at a cost of �2.50.
He immediately called the WHT and said: "I'm sitting here now and there are three disabled blue badge holders queuing for spaces.
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"I have watched a guy with an NHS pass on get out of his car after eating his lunch.
"He was here last week, in the same car, taking up the same space.
"I am incensed. It's ridiculous.
"These people [NHS bosses] are taking the mickey out of the public. This issue should be resolved."
A spokesman for the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust said disabled bays could only be used by staff registered disabled with a blue badge.
He added: "If a designated parking bay is being abused report this matter to the car park attendants.
"If someone has parked incorrectly they will be asked to move or if that is not possible given a fixed penalty charge.
"If it is a member of staff and the offence is repeated despite an initial warning, the matter will be reported to their line manager."
Disabled drivers can reclaim the costs for parking in the main car park if they are in receipt of benefits.
Annabelle Waterfield, chief executive of Herts Action on Disability (HAD), told the WHT: "My response to disabled people's parking is that it should be adequately policed.
"If it is not then they [hospital bosses] need to retract the scheme immediately and make more space for disabled parking.
