Unfair behaviour by Privately operated carpark management company

KeithP

There is a response to a Freedom of Information Request on the Trust's website which may be of interest.

The text of that response in it's entirety is...

Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust can confirm that both main hospitals have a drop off zone at the main entrance with a time limit of 10 minutes, however, we will always try to accommodate drivers with any specific needs for access. Blue badge parking is free if drivers park in allocated disabled spaces.

KeithP

Typo - should be - next to no treading trading history. 

Mouse007

dave77238u38 said:

below is a draft letter I intend to send the the CEO of NHS Lewisham Trust

Input welcome 

Dear Ben Travis

I am writing to inform you complain (or express concern) about the conduct of parking management firm (Wise Parking) that the Trust employs as an agent to manage their carparks at both the Lewisham and Greenwich Sites.

The NHS carpark guidance 2022 for NHS trust and NHS foundation trusts states -  

 

NHS Contracted-out car parking

-        NHS organisations are responsible for the actions of private contractors who run car parks on their behalf.  

-        NHS organisations should act against rogue contractors in line with the relevant codes of practice where applicable.

 

I have complained to PALs (who are PALs?) and awaiting a response. But as CEO of NHS Lewisham and Greenwich Trust I believe this serious matter needs to be brought to your attention.

Wise Parking is refusing to cancel Parking Charge Notices (PCN) that they issued knowing fully well that dispite the signage displayed within the UHL – blue Badge carpark were being inadequate at the time. when the (PCN) was issued, even when presented with overwhelming evidence they choose to ignore. (Briefly explain why inadeqate here)

They ignore facts and completely gloss over proven breaches that are a requirement of their membership to the IPC’s Accredited Operator Scheme (AOS)

In an email exchange between myself and the director of Wise Parking (Stuart Cole) he admits that the Trust subsequently requested additional signs to be added to the UHL – blue badge carpark. Why would the Trust let Wise Parking display inadequate signage in the first place?

Again, I remind you of the NHS parking principles, guidlines make it clear that the hospital is responsible for the actions of their sub-contractor. , and that The conduct shown by Wise Parking is that of a rogue private parking company which may be in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

Could you please explain how a company (Wise Parking) that was incorporated on 21st August 2021 with next to no treading history managed to walk into NHS Parking contracts?  Did the Trust put the contract out to tender or, if not, why was this contract awarded to a firm with zero background or client list?

The parking company that the Trust has employed is unregulated, and the IPC is not a regulatory body, merely it is a paid membership for the parking companies to support their own interests.

Also, The IPC do not audit sites, and they do not visit them, and their code of practice is advisory, not mandatory.
This is why the UK government has introduced a new parking bill, and intend to introduce a new mandatory code of practice to regulate this industry referred to as rogues, scammers, and bloodsuckers by MPs across all parties in open parliamentary debate.

What outcome do you want? Put it here - require him to remind the hospitals they must cancel PCN on request of staff, patients and visitors beginning with your own one perhaps?

I look forward to your reply

 

Regards

Some suggestions above - only my opinion - others may have other thoughts

Le_Kirk

dave77238u38 said:

Dear Ben Travis

Regards

yours sincerely

Suggestions - when you start a letter addressing a person by name, your salutation is as shown above.

Castle

Wise Parking are not subject to the F.O.I Act.

Mouse007

dave77238u38 said:

what is the likelihood of Wise Parking responding to a FOI request?

0% they are not a statutory body. FOI does not apply to private companies

Half_way

FOI from the PPC, zero but with trying non the less.
FOI from the hospital, again not much chance without a fight, but admin should be tried.
If I remember correctly there was something about hospitals not being able to hide behind so called commercial sensitivity with regards to FOI's

NormDris

dave77238u38 - how did you get on?

I am also in dispute with this lot.

The hospital are reasonably good with providing proper responses to FOI requests on car parking (I can't post the link but if you search for parking under Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust on whatdotheyknow, you will see some responses from the Trust). Nothing since Wise Parking took over.

But, one of the FOI requests was related to their previous parking company where the firm's sole revenue came from PCNs - the latest NHS guidance (which was referenced earlier in this thread) explicitly advises against this. Will be interesting to know what terms Wise operates under... will see what Ben says before raising a request on that.

Umkomaas

dave77238u38 - how did you get on?

Nowhere near conclusion. Keep tabs on the thread. Bookmark it. 

dave77238u38

@ NormDris, early stages. Sent complaints to all relevant persons, Trust CEO, My MP and PALs.
Once I have news I will post on here.