Collapsed Altrincham man's car targeted by meter maid

9:00am Monday 19th November 2007

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A PARKING attendant sprang into action when a man collapsed outside Altrincham General Hospital - by trying to slap a ticket on the victim's car.

The diligent warden came upon the scene after the man, who is diabetic, had keeled over in a car outside the hospital entrance.

Nurses ran out to help the man after his driver had dashed into the hospital to ask for assistance, and an ambulance was called.

But the intrepid meter maid spotted that the driver had pulled up in an ambulance bay - and was not about to show any leeway.

Undeterred by the frantic activity going on around her, the parking attendant repeatedly tried to issue a parking ticket.

She ignored protests and explanations as she pressed on - and even continued to issue a ticket after the ambulance arrived and the paramedics took over the care of the patient, according to a shocked observer.

The witness, who does not want to be named, said: "She finally did not give a ticket - but it took two ambulance men and the driver to persuade her that this guy had collapsed.

"Was this the first pantomime of the season?

"Sadly no, it was just another day in the life of the public, the medics, the hospital and an apparently over zealous parking attendant.

"One has to wonder whether she was trying to meet a target - or whether she was completely devoid of common sense."

The incident highlighted renewed calls by the Voluntary Transport Group for dropping off zones to be provided for its drivers to use, when they take disabled passengers to Altrincham General.

Group organiser Kaye Gardner said although it did not involve one of her drivers, she was not surprised by the incident.

Her drivers had been issued with eight tickets over the years - with the latest one happening on November 14, although all but a couple were later rescinded Kaye said: "Over the past three years I have written several letters and made endless phone calls in a fruitless attempt to get Trafford Council to provide a dropping off zone for drivers wishing to deliver disabled people to Altrincham Hospital for treatment.

"Despite promises that they are 'looking into it' nothing has been done.

"Altrincham is the only hospital in the Manchester area that does not have this facility.

"With over zealous traffic wardens waiting to pounce and the disabled parking bays usually occupied by shoppers rather than patients, we are in danger of a situation where our drivers will no longer be prepared to take the risk of being fined."