MP calls for common sense over court threat

Dudley’s MP says common sense should have prevailed in the case of a nurse facing court action over a parking charge.

Sonia Kumar was reacting to news the case against Woodsetton community medic Lisa Smith, who was sent a parking charge while she was treating a seriously ill child in Birmingham, has been dropped.

Ms Smith, who stayed longer than her free parking permit allowed because she got stuck in a lift on her way to treat the child, was hit with a bill for £266 and threatened with being taken to small claims court by Civil Enforcement Ltd.

Ms Kumar, who lobbied for the case to be closed, said: “Lisa was carrying out essential NHS work, caring for a vulnerable child and putting her patient’s needs first.

“Despite clear evidence of the circumstances, the case continued to escalate when common sense should have prevailed much earlier.

“What disappointed me most was that there were multiple opportunities to bring this case to an end once the facts were clear. Instead, a nurse caring for a sick child found herself facing court action over circumstances entirely beyond her control.

“I’m pleased common sense has finally prevailed and that my office was able to help secure a fair outcome for Lisa.”

Ms Kumar added the case highlights the challenges faced by community healthcare workers delivering essential care in people’s homes and the importance of ensuring frontline NHS staff are treated fairly when exceptional circumstances arise.

Ms Smith, who had to climb stairs to the fifth floor of the block where the seriously ill child lived after the lift failed, says the threat of a court appearance left her feeling stressed but she was glad she fought back against the penalty notice.

She added: “ I would like an apology or an explanation to why they pursued it so vigorously even when I provided the evidence from the beginning to why I was there and that I was stuck in a lift. I would advise anyone to dispute and stick up for themselves.”

By Martyn Smith | Local Democracy Reporting Service