"Parking fine for 4 minutes over ticket!"

Anything else?

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 hosipta, after previous problems in pregnancy we are always alittle worried and apprehnesive 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. Duirng my appointment the consultant became concerned while scanning, she informed us she 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 made. This was all fine and I am happy with the care I recevied fom the pregnancy assessment unit. Obviuosly we were very worried and attended out RVi appointment days later. However afew days later we recevied a parking fine, I was 4 minutes over the time I had paid on my car park ticket! I think this is outragous considering I was late due to the appointmnet running over and waiting for a second appointmnet at a different hopsital on request of the consultant that we wait. I certainly was not thinking about the car parking ticket at the this time but of the helath of our unborn child. I am highly disappointed with the new system that you ahve in place. We have had no issues in the past and have praised the hosiptal to others for their care we have recevied but going to hospital shouldn't mean worring about the parking and the possibility of receving a parkign 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 mising the birth?