A taxi driver was hit with a parking fine while delivering emergency bloods to Manchester Royal Infirmary - and had his appeal rejected. Gary, who didn't want his surname published, is self-employed, but works part-time for a firm he says regularly works in partnership with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to help deliver emergency bloods and x-rays.
Attending MRI to deliver bloods on April 8, he says he parked next to an ambulance before taking supplies inside. He returned minutes later to see a fixed penalty notice on his windscreen. Gary said there was a sign inside his vehicle saying what he was there for - and who he was working for.
"The taxi firm I work for has a contract with the NHS so we can help deliver bloods, x-rays, respond to 111 calls and also take patients to dialysis meetings," Gary, from Liverpool said.
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"I got a call to take some emergency transplant bloods from the pathology lab at Whiston Hospital in Prescott to MRI. I parked in an ambulance bay next to an ambulance, put the sign in the window and went into the hospital.
"I dropped the bloods off and must have been there for about ten minutes before I came back to see a sticker on my screen from ParkingEye."
Gary said he approached a ParkingEye worked, who told him he had received a ticket as he had parked in a blue badge spot - and because the sign wasn't visible in the window.
The ticket, Gary highlighted, states he parked in a designated 'emergency area'.
"I hadn't even opened the car at this point," Gary said. "I pointed out that the sign was still in the window and if they checked back on CCTV, they would see it's there.
Gary says he received a letter from ParkingEye informing him his appeal had been rejected on Tuesday (April 18).
The correspondence, seen by the Manchester Evening News, reads: "We have reviewed the details outlined in your appeal, but we are not in receipt of sufficient evidence to confirm that the terms and conditions were not breached. These terms are clearly displayed on the signage located throughout the car park."
"We are writing to advise you that your recent appeal has been unsuccessful and that you have now reached the end of our internal appeals procedure."
The letter then informed Gary that he had 14 days to pay £35 of the fine, before it would rise to the full amount of £70. The driver said his wife paid the fine in full this morning (April 19).
"I've never had anything like this before, I'm delivering blood, I'm working," he added.
"We've got people's records and bloods, I don’t think we should be parking in pay and display spaces to transport them, especially when it's an emergency."
ParkingEye said Gary parked in a 'no parking zone', which included patient transport drivers.
A Parkingeye spokesperson said: "Parkingeye has partnered with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust for five years to significantly improve how its car parks operate.
"During this time there has been investment in modern consumer-facing systems which has enhanced accessibility and made parking at the hospital easier and safer for staff, patients and visitors. The system is designed to ensure the efficiency and smooth operation of the hospital by ensuring that patients, visitors and staff park in their allocated car parks.
"There is clear signage throughout giving patients and visitors guidance on how to park responsibly during their visit to the hospital.
"The motorist received a parking charge notice after he parked in area that is reserved for ambulances only. The prominent signage clearly states that it is a no parking zone with no parking or waiting at any time, including blue badge holders and patient transport drivers.
"Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge. If anyone has mitigating circumstances then we would encourage them to appeal."
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