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A woman has blasted the “appalling and disgusting” way she claims she was treated after taking her disabled brother to an appointment at Hull Royal Infirmary.
The woman, along with her mother, visited the hospital on Wednesday morning so her brother, who has Down’s Syndrome and early onset dementia, could attend a cancer-screening appointment after becoming unable to swallow food.
However, she says she was left furious because of how one parking attendant allegedly spoke to them.
“My brother’s appointment was at 9.30am, and after picking everyone up I arrived at the hospital at about 9.20am”, she said.
“I realised I had forgotten his blue badge, so I went into the hospital and was advised to go to the third floor to speak with parking and security.
WATCH: Inside Hull Royal Infirmary’s emergency care department
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“When I got there I explained why we were there and that I had forgotten my brother’s blue badge, and was there any way I could leave a note in the windscreen.
“The guy was very abrupt and just said, ‘no, it’s illegal’.”
By the time the woman had spoken with the security team, it left little time to move the car to another area, so she attended the appointment without leaving a note.
“The NHS staff were absolutely fabulous and I can’t praise them enough”, said the woman, who has worked for the NHS for four decades.
“I explained to them that my brother is scared of the word cancer, so they made sure not to use it.
“We received such good treatment from the staff inside I forgot about the blue badge, and when we were walking back to the car I saw the same man who had told me I couldn’t leave a note on the windscreen.
“He barked at me that I had got a fine because I had parked illegally.”
The woman said the man was “rude”, and she was appalled by his behaviour, and that another parking attendant came up to them to apologise.
“I just couldn’t believe the way he was speaking to us when my brother was there”, she said.
“You don’t need to be a clinician to see that he has Down’s Syndrome and he is very frail.
“There was no compassion to him whatsoever, and he could clearly tell I wasn’t just making up an excuse.
Hannah Robinson is a reporter for Hull Live and the Hull Daily Mail. Her interests include food and drink news, entertainment, unique stories and breaking news.
You can email stories to hannah.robinson@reachplc.com or call 01482 315251.
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“Another man came running up to us saying how sorry he was, and that we should have stuck a note in the windscreen.
“I just couldn’t believe it. I explained I had already been told I couldn’t do that, but he said we would have been allowed to.
“My brother was so upset. He was confused and going bright red because he didn’t understand the man’s tone of voice.
“I was absolutely furious.”
The woman has since paid the £30 fine, but wanted to bring people to the attention of how patients are allegedly being treated at the hospital.
“If I hadn’t have asked beforehand about putting a note in the window I wouldn’t have been so angry”, she said.
“I am paying the fine because I am not giving this man the satisfaction of appealing it, but the treatment and attitude we got was appalling.”
Hull NHS Trust comment
A spokeswoman for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are sorry to hear of the difficulties which have been experienced, however patients and visitors wishing to use the disabled parking area at the front of the Hull Royal Infirmary tower block must display a valid blue badge, without exception; this is to ensure that spaces remain available for those with the greatest need.
“We would be happy to investigate this complaint further once contact is made and more details shared with our Patient Advice and Liaison Team.”
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