Stress of parking at Northampton General Hospital leads cancer patient to consider stopping treatment

Russell Bradford was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the end of last year and had to attend the hospital’s oncology unit for multiple radiotherapy sessions.

The 83-year-old has now been told he needs to start radiotherapy again, visiting the hospital for a total of 20 times throughout August.

But Russell, who lives in Irchester, says he cannot face the battle to park, or the risk of receiving a parking ticket, of which he has had two already.

Russell said: “The appalling parking at the oncology unit is driving me to potentially cease my cancer treatment.

“When I was diagnosed, I was signed up to allow free parking in the hospital’s specific spots, but the problem is there are not enough of them. People either have to turn up very early and wait for a space, or get dropped off by a relative who waits in the car until a space became available.

“The times my wife was unable to accompany me I couldn’t find a space and received a fine, despite showing my blue badge and oncology badge.

“The stress of radiotherapy is bad enough, but then I have had to battle parking fines too. I complained and was told the fine had been dismissed, but two months later I am still receiving letters demanding payment.”

As Russell’s wife recently underwent major surgery, she is unable to take him to his upcoming appointments.

He said he cannot face the stress of parking, especially at a time when his wife is unwell and he will also be undergoing treatment.

He added: “I am now in a situation where the oncology consultant wants me to recommence treatment.

“My wife has just undergone a massive spinal operation and can no longer drive, so given I live in Irchester, I will be forced to attend singly and cannot face the draconian car parking regime.

“For a major hospital as clearly Northampton is, something very drastic should be done similar to Kettering who built a new multi-level car park, rather than countenance the fining that is obviously causing enormous stress to many patients.”

Rob Drabble, Northampton General Hospital’s director of estates said: “We do our best to support our cancer patients in their treatment journeys and this includes enabling them to have a permit to park for free in any public space.

“We understand it can be difficult to find spaces on our site and can only urge people to allow sufficient time to find one before their appointments.

“We are happy to look at the penalty fines in this case to see if they can be rescinded if we are contacted directly and the patient explains the circumstances.”