"Blue Badge Parking as carer"

As a carer for my elderly mother, I drive her and deliver any of her care needs. 

She had a heart attack recently and went into Good Hope Hospital. She was given a ward room and I went to see her and talk to her about any issues she may have. I parked the car in the carpark around 7.15pm, visited her and came back to the car 40 minutes later. 

Usually, when the treatment centre is open I can get the parking ticket validated for free parking under her Blue Badge. As the Treatment Centre was closed after hours I went to the parking payment cabin and showed my ticket and the Blue Badge to the attendant. To my dismay the attendant said the Blue Badge holder had to be present with me in order for free parking!!

I was livid. As carer, I have to look after her physical and mental needs. If I have to visit her to carry out these duties, she/I should not have to be charged parking. And it is impossible for her as a patient in the hospital ward, to travel down to the parking cabin to verify her Badge and appointed carer. This is ludicrous. Does Blue Badge extend to the carer? If so, I feel both the Treatment Centre and out-of-hours parking cabin should offer exactly the same.