Woman 'horrified' at receiving parking fine after finding Warwick Hospital pay machines taped up over Christmas

A woman said she was horrified at receiving a parking fine after parking at Warwick Hospital over Christmas.

Janet Palmer rushed to the hospital from her home in Willersey in the Cotswolds early on Boxing day after her grandson had suspected meningitis.

When she went to leave she found the pay machines taped up and says she was told that parking was free.

Janet said: "On the early hours of Boxing day we had to rush our grandson of 10 months into Warwick Hospital in a emergency with suspected meningitis at around 4.04 am.

"After leaving my daughter (the mother of the child) with our grandson, I had to leave the hospital at around 5.38 am because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

"On leaving the A&E dept I went to the car parking pay machines to pay the fee.

"All of the machines were taped up with a note stating free. I therefore went straight away to find the security guard to ask whether this was correct .

"He responded by stating that it was correct and that they did have a heart over Christmas."

On January 1 Janet received the fine.

"We received a car parking fine for non-payment of car parking fees for £85", said Janet.

"I was very, very shocked and horrified when the fine came through. The appeal was rejected stating that free parking was for Christmas day only.

"Without ripping off all of the paper and tape off the machines what were we supposed to do?

"Warwick hospital is generally very good it is just the abysmal car parking company and signage.

"If it was only for Christmas Day why were the machines still taped up on Boxing Day thus enabling us not being able to pay."

Speaking about the issue, a spokesperson for South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust said: “As communicated via signs on our car parking machines, our Trust provided free parking on Christmas Day.

"However, due to a human error these signs were unfortunately not removed on Boxing Day.

"Our Trust would like to sincerely apologise to the person who received a fine following this error.

"We will investigate their query thoroughly and will either cancel the penalty charge notice (PCN) for their vehicle, if the fine has not been paid or we will contact the external company, who issue the fines, to reimburse the charges if the PCN has been paid.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind the general public that, to ensure timely resolutions, any car parking queries should be directed to [email protected].”