Nurse wants apology for cancelled court action

A Dudley nurse who was facing court action over a parking charge notice issued while she treated a child says she is owed an apology.

Lisa Smith was attending a seriously ill child in Birmingham when she was recorded in a parking bay for longer than 30 minutes.

The community nurse, from Woodsetton, was delayed after being trapped in a lift before treating the child, who was so ill he required hospital treatment.

She later received a notice saying a parking enforcement company was taking her to court to recover a penalty charge of £266.

Following media coverage of the incident and the intervention of Dudley MP Sonia Kumar, the case has now been dropped.

Lisa Smith said: “The court sent the form back I had to complete regarding the hearing and just said it was no longer required because the case has been discontinued.

“I would like an apology or an explanation to why they pursued it so vigorously even when I provided the evidence from the beginning as to why I was there and that I was stuck in a lift.”

Ms Kumar wrote to Civil Enforcement Ltd  asking for proceedings against her constituent to be halted.

Speaking in October when the case hit the headlines, Ms Kumar said: “The lifts were broken.

“She climbed five floors to reach her patient. And for that, she is now facing court action, it’s not good enough.”

As a medical practitioner Ms Smith was allowed 30 minutes free parking at the flats where she was sent to treat the child and was not aware of the parking charge straight away because she was driving an NHS pool car and was later off work due to illness.

She is now free from the worry of facing court action and says people in a similar situation should dispute claims against them.

Ms Smith said: “I would advise anyone to stick up for themselves.”

By Martyn Smith | Local Democracy Reporting Service