NHS staff claim they are being “targeted” by a private parking company after being penalised for being picked up just yards away from a Covid hospital.
Frontline workers who are being dropped off and picked up near the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital have been receiving penalty charge notices from National Parking Enforcement (NPE).
In one case, a motorist who stopped for just 16 seconds to drop off his partner, a nurse, at the hospital was given a £60 ticket.
In another case, a physiotherapist received a similar penalty when his partner stopped for 43 seconds to pick him up.
Ali Durrant, 28, a senior physiotherapist at the hospital, had just finished a gruelling shift on a Covid ward when his partner came to pick him up and pulled over onto the private road on the hospital campus to allow him to get into the car in less than a minute.
He said: “All of us in the NHS are working harder and working longer at the moment so this just adds to the strain we are already under. The fact NHS workers are being targeted is just ludicrous.
"The signs down the road really aren't clear and even if you stop to read them that would probably count as parking to NPE.”
Mr Durrant appealed against the charge but the company refused the appeal, arguing that it had been "issued correctly”, with the cost demand set to increase to £100 unless it was paid promptly.
He added: "I am planning to take action as it feels like they are punishing NHS workers at a time when we are working incredibly hard. We are already under stress and this just adds to it - they make absolutely no allowances.”
A spokesperson for NPE said: "The vehicle was stationary at a junction which has enormous signs stating that stopping is not permitted at any time. There are also double yellow lines for the entire length of this roadway.
“The motorist appealed on behalf of his partner and clearly stated within the appeal that the vehicle did in fact stop to enable him to be picked up by the driver.
"There is also no loading or unloading permitted along this roadway at any time and therefore the appeal was declined."
