March 17: Parking fine after my A&E treatment
I am a disabled blue card holder and I find the following a disgrace.
On February 24, I injured my leg and rather than waste the time and money of the ambulance service, as they are needed for more critical things, my husband drove me to Northampton General Hospital's A&E department.
We then got to the hospital, all the parking bays were full and two disabled bays were full of building materials and rubbish.
We arrived at the A&E door, my husband went in to find a wheelchair for me and I put my disabled blue badge in the window. We did not notice a half-hour-only sign, but even so we had the blue badge on my car and one can park even on yellow lines providing it is safe.
Casualty was not busy, only a one-hour wait, long enough when in pain. I was seen very quickly, the outcome being I had broken my tibia bone.
On leaving in a wheelchair, helped by a nurse to get into the car, we discovered a parking ticket on the car windscreen.
My husband went back into the hospital reception only to be told parking was nothing to do with them, it was an outside private company.
The cost was to be 40, if not paid in 14 days 80.
I rang this company, County Parking, a few days later once my pain was under control and was told I could appeal, which I have done, relating the whole story, including the fact that if the warden needed the space he could have come in and found us (since my name is on my blue badge) and the car could have been moved.
I received a reply, a standard letter saying I have to pay.
What is it all coming to?
Yes, I do have a blue badge which I had following an accident but I do not abuse it.
I don't claim benefits, I work. I've lived here all my life but I am more concerned that genuine people like myself in need of treatment who might be very old or disabled are treated in this manner.
By trying to save money for the hospital, I have to pay a penalty of 40, possibly 80. An ambulance would be in the region of 200, I imagine.
Why are we treated like this?
Suzanne J Richards,
Gate Lodge, Thorpeville, Northampton.
Why our stroke ad is so realistic
I am aware that many people have expressed concern over the graphic nature of the stroke advertisements currently running on television, radio and in print.
The advertisements were actually commissioned and funded by the Department of Health. However, The Stroke Association has worked very closely with them and are in full support of this campaign.
Each year, 150,000 people will have a stroke. . . one every five minutes. A stroke is a brain attack; it causes brain cells to die and results in brain damage.
A stroke can kill or leave a person severely disabled.
However, new treatments and improvements to care mean that the quicker a stroke patient gets to hospital, the more of the person can be saved.
It is vital people know the symptoms and act FAST.
Stroke is very traumatic for all involved, so it is not surprising that some people have found the direct nature of the ads and the image of fire very painful.
We really sympathise with them but our research shows that most people don't know the symptoms of stroke, or realise that stroke can be treated.
The advertisements need to be honest so that stroke symptoms stick in people's heads.
The advertisements have prompted many hundreds of people to get in touch with us to get information about stroke and to speak to our helpline staff who offer support and advice, and many stroke clinicians have already told me that they have been able to treat more people with strokes quickly as a result of the campaign.
Our helpline teams are available on 0845 303 3100.
Jon Barrick,
Chief Executive, The Stroke Association (www.stroke.org.uk).
No excuse for dumped rubbish
I have lived on Lings estate in Northampton since it was built.
I used to be proud to say I lived there, but, alas, now I am ashamed.
Everywhere you look there is dumped rubbish; the tenants and owners all seem to think it is acceptable to dump their rubbish anywhere, except their own garden.
If you report it, it isn't always looked into, even if you tell them who does it.
Please think before you dump. Most of the culprits have access to vans and cars, so there is no excuse.
M Little,
Old Barn Court, Lings, Northampton.
Warden should have used post
While I have every sympathy for the traffic warden knocked down by a car in St Giles Street, Northampton, last week, he should not have been standing in the road.
They have no powers to stop a car or stand in front of it. Tickets can now be issued through first class post in the event the warden has started to write out the ticket.
The warden should have just stepped back and the ticket sent through the post.
Just for the record, they are now known as "civil enforcement officers", not traffic wardens.
John Stanton,
Glasgow Street,
St James, Northampton.
Speed humps are mountains!
I wonder how many people have already had their cars damaged by the new speed mountains in the car park at Weston Favell shopping centre?
I know they have a problem with boy racers late at night but these new humps they've put in are horrendous.
Even if you stop and nudge over them, you still end up juddering over them.
Owners of smaller vehicles which are quite low to the floor must hate them.
I saw someone in a Smart car scrape their bumper on them the other day.
It's only a matter of time before something worse happens.
S Boyer,
West Paddock Court, Northampton.
Police must deal with protesters
I was delighted to hear that Northampton will have the opportunity to honour our armed forces tomorrow and I know that we will give them a rousing reception.
All our forces have carried out their duties with courage, fairness and fortitude and we salute them.
Let's hope the police are quick to act on inflammatory placards or comments. We have plenty of laws to deal with such things, it just needs the will to do it.
Councillor Tim Hadland,
Weston Ward and Leader of the Conservative Group, Northampton Borough Council.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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