A hospital Chief Exec. who believes the disabled a cheats.

mazza111

mikey72 wrote: »

I didn't question the taxi.
But the obvious answer at the hospital in question here is it won't use a parking space.
A barrier won't keep out anyone, it'll have no way of knowing why anyone is parking. And if asked, anyone parking there who shouldn't be will simply lie.

And how would she cover the cost of several taxis/month to attend hospital. Yes, she gets DLA, but that's eaten up by other transport costs throughout the month.

Of course barriers would keep people out. They go into hospital, get a ticket at barrier. Get it stamped or get a token after their appointment. Get out of hospital.

The thing that worries me about hospital appointment charging is, how many appointments run on time? How many hold ups are there in the hospital. I know when we go to the fracture clinic, they tell you that you may be there up to an hour. In reality, I've seen it being 2-3 hours. So joe bloggs goes into hospital for an appointment, pays for an hour parking. Just as that hour is about to be up, his name gets called, he's then to see the doc, get xrays, back to see the doc. How many people would end up getting invoices (I won't say fines) for not paying enough.

BTW - There will be no solution to the hospital I've mentioned. Although it's a new built hospital, it's not close to town, so it's not being used for people for work (apart from hospital staff). 6/7 days there isn't a major problem with parking, just on a Wed when they have the extra clinics on. Dermatology is one that I can mention off the top of my head, it's the only day the dermatologist works at that hospital. There just aren't enough parking spaces on a Wed. It's just been poorly designed, especially for the car park. If there's no disabled spaces, you need to walk about half a mile to get from one end of the hospital to the hospital entrance. And then there's miles of corridors when it comes to going to one of the wards.


In all honesty, it's this stupid man's reasoning that's getting to me, that it's just as easy for disabled people to use public transport. I wish for one day, for him to come and visit my daughter and see the problems, she or other disabled people have when using public transport.

And furthermore, just for the record, I have 2 disabled badges in my car right now, one for the DD and one for the mother. I would never abuse these and use them when they aren't in the car. Although it's tough deciding what one to use when they are both in the car (rarely):rotfl: Why should people who use the scheme correctly pay because of others abusing the system?

giraffe69

Aneurin Bevan must be turning in his grave!

Given what he is responsible for he is lucky to get off that lightly

mikey72

mazza111 wrote: »

And how would she cover the cost of several taxis/month to attend hospital. Yes, she gets DLA, but that's eaten up by other transport costs throughout the month.

Of course barriers would keep people out. They go into hospital, get a ticket at barrier. Get it stamped or get a token after their appointment. Get out of hospital.

The thing that worries me about hospital appointment charging is, how many appointments run on time? How many hold ups are there in the hospital. I know when we go to the fracture clinic, they tell you that you may be there up to an hour. In reality, I've seen it being 2-3 hours. So joe bloggs goes into hospital for an appointment, pays for an hour parking. Just as that hour is about to be up, his name gets called, he's then to see the doc, get xrays, back to see the doc. How many people would end up getting invoices (I won't say fines) for not paying enough.

BTW - There will be no solution to the hospital I've mentioned. Although it's a new built hospital, it's not close to town, so it's not being used for people for work (apart from hospital staff). 6/7 days there isn't a major problem with parking, just on a Wed when they have the extra clinics on. Dermatology is one that I can mention off the top of my head, it's the only day the dermatologist works at that hospital. There just aren't enough parking spaces on a Wed. It's just been poorly designed, especially for the car park. If there's no disabled spaces, you need to walk about half a mile to get from one end of the hospital to the hospital entrance. And then there's miles of corridors when it comes to going to one of the wards.


In all honesty, it's this stupid man's reasoning that's getting to me, that it's just as easy for disabled people to use public transport. I wish for one day, for him to come and visit my daughter and see the problems, she or other disabled people have when using public transport.

And furthermore, just for the record, I have 2 disabled badges in my car right now, one for the DD and one for the mother. I would never abuse these and use them when they aren't in the car. Although it's tough deciding what one to use when they are both in the car (rarely):rotfl: Why should people who use the scheme correctly pay because of others abusing the system?

I like barriers. But the token system would mean every visitor would have to queue to see a member of staff to leave. And anyone could do that. Our local is easier. Get the ticket as you go in, pre pay at the machine as you leave. Put the ticket in at the car park to raise the barrier. All spaces are chargeable.

There are some free spaces for disabled parking, but it's open access, and dependant on other motorists not abusing them.
Now, it's private parking, and also states they're for blue badge owners only, which as you'll know from this site that's a total no-no, if I name the hospital there would be a lynch mob descending on them quoting the equality act, and how blue badges are meaningless on private car parks. But it seems to work.

It is getting full though. I have also circled waiting for spaces, and had to phone from the car park to tell them I’ll be late.

Weekly passes are under a tenner, monthly between twenty and thirty.
So if I’m there a lot, I buy the appropriate pass.

So, the big question to me, is it worth paying that much to keep the casual parkers out, or to encourage them not to park there, and walk into town to work. To answer that, I find there are mainly two types of motorists.
Those who use their car regardless, and demand a free space anywhere that’s convenient to them, as they believe if they have a car they have a right to park. The £8 a week definitely puts them off, and they go and find a street outside someones’ house, or park in the supermarket, even though it’s marginally further away as it’s free. The others accept there is a cost to motoring, and pay, so use the town’s car parks.

As I would probably be dead without the NHS, I figure even if I bought a monthly pass every month, it’s a few hundred pounds. I could complain it’s an unfair tax, and everyone else should be paying it for me, but I don’t. Everyone else is paying a lot more than that to keep me here, so I can thank them for that instead. Thinking about it, from advice on here, I technically could use the disabled spaces, and ignore the hundreds of tickets I would get, and get the acclaim of this forum for doing it. Personally I wouldn’t dream of parking without a blue badge on display.

mazza111

The barrier system would be easy to operate for patients. You almost always see a receptionist when you go into the hospital to give your name, tell them you need a token at the same time.... No appointment no token, or make a charge for the people who aren't using the hospital car parks for the hospital. I'm sure then they would stop using it.

You must admit the way this guy has worded it, makes it look like all disabled people are abusing the system. And you have to remember that not all disabilities are visible.

Not sure if they still do but Asda in Brighton (marina) had a similar scheme. You showed your receipt, you got a token to get out the car park. The same could be done in hospitals to charge those who aren't at the hospital.

mikey72

mazza111 wrote: »

The barrier system would be easy to operate for patients. You almost always see a receptionist when you go into the hospital to give your name, tell them you need a token at the same time.... No appointment no token, or make a charge for the people who aren't using the hospital car parks for the hospital. I'm sure then they would stop using it.

You must admit the way this guy has worded it, makes it look like all disabled people are abusing the system. And you have to remember that not all disabilities are visible.

Not sure if they still do but Asda in Brighton (marina) had a similar scheme. You showed your receipt, you got a token to get out the car park. The same could be done in hospitals to charge those who aren't at the hospital.

How do you operate it for visitors?
They're the ones that normally fill ours.
Able bodied and disabled visitors alike, and bearing in mind you can't use the blue badge system on private land, anyone that does is acting illegally.

taffy056

mikey72 wrote: »

I like barriers. But the token system would mean every visitor would have to queue to see a member of staff to leave. And anyone could do that. Our local is easier. Get the ticket as you go in, pre pay at the machine as you leave. Put the ticket in at the car park to raise the barrier. All spaces are chargeable.

If its done properly there would be no queues of people waiting to leave, as you would pick one up when you first go in for an appointment, you have to inform them you are there so they know there is not a missed appointment.. Also the same is for visiting patients, you make it look like that people are inherently stupid, and so are the staff of hospitals

mikey72 wrote: »

There are some free spaces for disabled parking, but it's open access, and dependant on other motorists not abusing them.
Now, it's private parking, and also states they're for blue badge owners only, which as you'll know from this site that's a total no-no, if I name the hospital there would be a lynch mob descending on them quoting the equality act, and how blue badges are meaningless on private car parks. But it seems to work.

Honestly you are making yourself look idiotic, there is no lynch mobs, and certainly no mob! And as the blue badge scheme does not apply to private land, there is no legal requirement to show them, is that our fault that its termed in that way? We don't set the rules of the scheme! All we do is point out the facts, you playing devils advocate always criticise us pointing out the terms, but mikey fix it you don't offer how to fix it do you?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople/motoringandtransport/dg_4001061

mikey72 wrote: »

Weekly passes are under a tenner, monthly between twenty and thirty.
So if I’m there a lot, I buy the appropriate pass.

And that is beyond the means of a lot of people, there are stark choices being made, with reports today that people are making choices whether to eat or pay bills, or whether they can clothe their child properly. You add that onto the costs of visiting hospital and you can see why people are struggling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19478083

mikey72 wrote: »

So, the big question to me, is it worth paying that much to keep the casual parkers out, or to encourage them not to park there, and walk into town to work. To answer that, I find there are mainly two types of motorists.
Those who use their car regardless, and demand a free space anywhere that’s convenient to them, as they believe if they have a car they have a right to park. The £8 a week definitely puts them off, and they go and find a street outside someones’ house, or park in the supermarket, even though it’s marginally further away as it’s free. The others accept there is a cost to motoring, and pay, so use the town’s car parks.

How many patients will be put off visiting hospitals now that costs have doubled in some of them? Yes there is a cost to motoring that people choose to pay, but why should there be a cost to treatment at an NHS hospital where they have no option and must pay, or they don't get treatment.

mikey72 wrote: »

As I would probably be dead without the NHS, I figure even if I bought a monthly pass every month, it’s a few hundred pounds. I could complain it’s an unfair tax, and everyone else should be paying it for me, but I don’t. Everyone else is paying a lot more than that to keep me here, so I can thank them for that instead. Thinking about it, from advice on here, I technically could use the disabled spaces, and ignore the hundreds of tickets I would get, and get the acclaim of this forum for doing it. Personally I wouldn’t dream of parking without a blue badge on display.

Bear that in mind mikey fix it, you may be able to afford to pay for parking, a lot of others cannot, and as hospital parking is vital its an unfair tax on those who have no choice. As for ignoring tickets, we advise that because these tickets do not reflect the loss, they are unfair penalty, and there is no appeal worthy of its name, well at least not until next month

mikey72

mazza111 wrote: »

..........And furthermore, just for the record, I have 2 disabled badges in my car right now, one for the DD and one for the mother. I would never abuse these and use them when they aren't in the car. Although it's tough deciding what one to use when they are both in the car (rarely):rotfl: Why should people who use the scheme correctly pay because of others abusing the system?

Actually, I'm in exactly the same position there, only 1 badge though, not mine.

So when you have dropped them off at the entrance, put them in a hospital wheelchair, and gone to move the car, do you still qualify to park in a disabled space with the badge on display, or do you park in the normal pay and display, as you're able bodied, and will be taking the car back to the door to pick them up again?

They're not walking from the car to the hospital after all.

mazza111

mikey72 wrote: »

Actually, I'm in exactly the same position there, only 1 badge though, not mine.

So when you have dropped them off at the entrance, put them in a hospital wheelchair, and gone to move the car, do you still qualify to park in a disabled space with the badge on display, or do you park in the normal pay and display, as you're able bodied, and will be taking the car back to the door to pick them up again?

They're not walking from the car to the hospital after all.

Depends. Again, if I've got her in a wheelchair (rarely), I do park in a disabled space. Because I will take her back in the wheelchair to the car, not necessarily hospital chair though. If she's on her crutches, then no. I won't park in a disabled space after I've dropped her off at the hospital entrance I do usually try to find a disabled space before I drop her at the hospital entrance, if there's no space available, then it's drop and park wherever I can. If a disabled space becomes available in the meantime I would use it, after all she still has to get back to the car.

And as Taffy said, visitors could just ask on the ward for a token.

And again as Taffy said, using a bb on private land is not illegal. Just not enforcable should you get a ticket etc.


There are other ways of stopping people abusing hospital car parks without bringing in charges and saying disabled people should use public transport.


I go back to the hospital transport too. Even though the cost to the NHS puts me off, I would not be able to attend my dd's appointments with her as they are just for patients. Now there's many things my dd forgets to ask, due to medication and lack of sleep so would prefer that someone goes with her. OFC that falls down to me being her mother

JagDriver

I think it will be very detrimental to the surrounding areas. Already people park outside residents’ homes instead of paying to stay on the public car park.

I can't believe I just read the entire thread and not one mention of this!
It appears that those who are able, park legitimately using the provided on street parking. No cost (to either the patient or the NHS). So what exactly does Mr Overpaid Chef Executer provide in his Car Park that the Free on street parking does not give?

mikey72

mazza111 wrote: »

..........using a bb on private land is not illegal. Just not enforcable should you get a ticket etc......

Coupon-mad has made enough posts about the blue badge being stated as required on parking signs, with reference to the Equality Act, so if she's reading this I sure she would happily post again to explain.