Concerns have once again been raised again about parking for Blue Badge holders at the George Eliot Hospital
Car parking at Nuneaton’s hospital has been dubbed ‘an absolute disgrace’. Jeff Hunt spoke angrily about the situation with car parks at the George Eliot Hospital, especially for disabled drivers.
The former borough councillor and founder of People in Action told a George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust board meeting that his own daughter faces a £130 fine due to complications with Blue Badge holders being able to register their cars so that they can park for free.
This is not the first time that concerns have been raised about the issue, with CoventryLive reporting complaints including concerns raised about the way Blue Badge holders have to register their cars and fears this could lead to fines.
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This followed changes the hospital made to its parking last year. But Mr Hunt claimed that the situation is getting worse.
“The car parking at the George Eliot (hospital) is an absolute disgrace for blue badge people,” he said. “I have been a trustee for the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for many, many years and you would not believe the amount of people coming to me to complain about this.
“Whoever did the due diligence on this contract shouldn’t be working for the health service.”
Adam Carson, who is the acting chief executive of George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, responded: “I am really sorry at the concerns regarding parking and blue badge parking.”
He said that they have made changes following previous concerns including pre-registering on an app or in person at the front desk at the hospital.
“There have been some challenges in the past but we have improved the system as a result of that and I think that the feedback over the past month or so has been much improved but I do apologise for that.”
Mr Hunt pressed further and asked why number plate recognition systems cannot be used locally. “I know South Warwickshire (trust) do a better job of it than we do.”
Russell Hardy, the board’s chair said:” It is a fair challenge you (Mr Hunt) make in getting the system to be able to use PCN to identify blue badge holders,” before adding that they could look into it.
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