Grandmother now has 1,000 signatures for cheaper parking petition at Northwick Park Hospital (From Harrow Times)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news & views by texting Harrow Times to 80360, or email us
Grandmother now has 1,000 signatures for cheaper parking petition at Northwick Park Hospital
1:00pm Wednesday 2nd May 2012 in News By Anna Slater
Mr Leapman
A grandmother campaigning for cheaper parking charges at Northwick Park Hospital now has 1,000 people backing her petition.
Pamela Gershon, of Charlton Road, Kenton, who has regular blood tests and check-ups for cataracts at the hospital in Watford Road, Harrow, says she is worried she and other patients can no longer afford to keep appointments.
The 88-year-old has been “overwhelmed” with the petitions success.
She said: “Everyone has been amazing, and it makes me more determined that I won’t rest until I have succeeded in making hospital parking charges cheaper for all.”
Laurence Leapman, of South Hill Avenue, says he spent ten years in and out of the hospital with his wife, Sonia, before she died of a heart condition last year.
The 89-year-old said: “There’s no question about it – the charges are extortionate. It’s nothing short of daylight robbery.
“People rushing in for an emergency might not have money on them, and paying for the car park will certainly be the last thing on their mind.”
He is also concerned the high charges might deter people from going in to the hospital to have important check-ups.
Robert Azevedo-Gilbert, who suffers from a bowel condition, meets other members of his support group, Inside Out Stoma Group, at neighbouring St Mark’s Hospital twice a month. The two hospitals share a car park.
The 63-year-old said that imposing parking fines on people at a hospital is “heartless.”
He explained that people with long-term conditions are eligible for cheaper parking passes, but until his support group campaigned for signs to be put up about this around the hospital, people didn’t know they were entitled to it.
But he added: “What about regular people who visit the hospital’s accident and emergency department? Going to the hospital should be a basic right.”
The charges rose from £2 to £2.20 for one hour and from £5 to £5.50 for up to five hours last year.
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust have declined to comment until they recieve Mrs Gershon's petition.
To sign Mrs Gershon's petition, e-mail pamgers08@btinternet.com.
