"Parking fine at Wansbeck General hosiptal"

The parking at Wansbeck has never been great but the recent changes and removal of a patient car park being now a staff car park makes it even harder to find a space. I recently attended a pre natal appointment with a consultant at the hospital, after previous problems in pregnancy we are always little worried and apprehensive about these appointments. Being 34 weeks pregnant I hoped to find a space near the relevant entrance. However this was not possible, I eventually parked my car and paid for an hour at the ticket machine. During my appointment the consultant became concerned while scanning; they informed us they wanted us to go to the RVI to fetal medicine to be checked there. I then had to wait 20 minutes for an appointment to make. This was all fine and I am happy with the care I received from the pregnancy assessment unit. Obviously we were very worried and attended out RVI appointment days later.

However a few days later we received a parking fine, I was 4 minutes over the time I had paid on my car park ticket! I think this is outrageous considering I was late due to the appointment running over and waiting for a second appointment at a different hospital on request of the consultant that we wait. I certainly was not thinking about the car parking ticket at this time but of the health of our unborn child. I am highly disappointed with the new system that you have in place. We have had no issues in the past and have praised the hospital to others for their care we have received but going to hospital shouldn't mean worrying about the parking and the possibility of receiving a parking fine. What will happen when I go into labour? Will my husband be expected to top the ticket up when it runs out and run the risk of missing the birth?