Hull Royal Infirmary Patient Receives Parking Fines While in Intensive Care
A woman receiving intensive care at Hull Royal Infirmary has been issued parking fines, causing further distress for her family. Kate Matthews, 36, has been hospitalised since March, fighting a serious illness that has rendered her unconscious for much of this period.
Her partner, Chris Tunnicliffe, registered Ms Matthews' car for free parking at the hospital shortly after her admission. However, fines began to arrive at their home, accumulating a debt of £360. Mr Tunnicliffe stated he provided all necessary documentation and adhered to the hospital's parking registration process.
The company managing the car park, ParkingEye, requires families of long-term patients to re-register their vehicles every 90 days. Ms Matthews' family were reportedly unaware of this condition, adding an administrative burden during a period of intense personal difficulty.
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which oversees Hull Royal Infirmary, has acknowledged the situation. A spokesperson indicated the trust is working with ParkingEye to resolve the issue for Ms Matthews and her family. They also noted that the trust has the authority to cancel fines in cases of genuine hardship or error, encouraging affected individuals to contact their patient advice and liaison service.
Mr Tunnicliffe expressed frustration that the family, already navigating a severe health crisis, must now also contend with bureaucratic hurdles over parking charges.
