"Lack of clear guidance and signage as to how the parking area should be used."

Transport

At the In Patient Block at the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, there is a drop off/pick up area for relatives to use when dropping off and collecting their family members.  The area is monitored by the parking company.

There is a sign telling people that it is a drop off area and that no parking is allowed.  However, there is no signage to say how long of a grace period is permitted to allow someone to stop their vehicle, exit it, go to the ward and collect their relative and quickly return to their vehicle.

I have spoken with a Trust Transport Manager who advised initially that there is a 20-minute grace waiting period and that following my query, they would ensure signage was erected to advise people of the grace period and how they can properly use the area to avoid getting a parking ticket.

A month later my sister received a ticket when she left her car for 19 minutes to bring our elderly  mother home from a stay in hospital.  I would be most grateful if someone would arrange for clear guidance and signage as to how the area should be used.  Since my sister received the ticket, I again e mailed the same manager who I feel is now providing conflicting advice. They are now saying there is no grace period at all and that the car needs to have two people in it so that one can collect their relative and another remain with the car.

I think it is unacceptable to both give conflicting advice and to expect families to have two people to collect a relative.  The people who use this area are generally people who are at the most vulnerable times of their lives, either stressed and anxious about their family member or unwell themselves. They are for the most part people who are legitimately trying to collect relatives and have not simply abandoned their car with the intention of parking for a long time. I feel it is so unfair that due to no guidance as to how to use the area, they are being penalised with these tickets.