A doctor whose night shift overran because he was helping a suffocating patient has been slapped with a £100 parking fine.
Malinga Ratwatte says he was less than 10 minutes late back to his car at the end of his 12-hour shift.
When he got back from leave, he was incredulous to see the fine notice in the post. He said: “I was dealing with a patient who had a threat to their airway.
“She had a traumatic event leading to the swelling of her neck. That was why I had to stay late.
“Even with general private parking there is usually a leeway time.”
Dr Ratwatte, training to be a GP in North London, also does nights at three London hospitals and asked us not to name the trust involved.
He said bosses offered to help him appeal – after his story went viral on social media.
Adding insult to injury, another £100 fine followed the first, for a similarly slight lateness.
The Department of Health and Social Care said NHS staff were given free hospital car parking at the height of the pandemic, which ended on 31 March. It added: “Free parking for staff on night shifts will continue.”
