The parents of a teenager who lost part of his leg following a crash are angry after being hit with a parking ticket while taking him for physio.

Michael Johnstone , 16, is visiting the disablement services centre at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle twice a week at the start of his recovery and rehabilitation.

His parents Ali and Mike, of Manor Road, Upperby, took him to the centre on Monday morning but were hit with a ticket when they failed to find a suitable place to park.

Mrs Johnstone explained: “There were a number of disabled parking spaces right outside [the centre] but all the other spaces were full.

“We parked up in one of the disabled places and took Michael in and explained to the receptionist what we’d done. She said she’d write us a note for our dashboard and call the parking company to explain our situation.

“We were told that we’d still get a ticket even with a note because there was no blue badge. We don’t have one yet but we’ve applied for one.”

She continued: “Mike went out to move the car and in the rush, unbeknown to him, he parked in a permit holder’s space. That was about 9.35am and when we got back to the car we found the ticket – it was timed at 9.41am.”

Mrs Johnstone has appealed against the parking ticket issued by UK Parking Control ( UKPC ). Following the News & Star’s intervention, the hospital trust running the infirmary said that the ticket will be cancelled.

Mrs Johnstone says she is angry at the lack of empathy shown to patients when it comes to parking enforcement.

“It was a genuine fault, a complete error,” said Mrs Johnstone, “but we’re at the start of Michael’s treatment and Mike had rushed out to move the car because we didn’t have a blue badge.

“I know the reasons why the parking is being enforced because people are using it and going into town, but this is the disablement centre where people are going for rehabilitation.”


Michael Johnstone Mrs Johnstone added that the parking ticket comes as the family adjusts to caring for Michael at home and the appointments and aftercare he needs. He continues to recover from the life-changing injury he sustained following a crash near the Pirelli tyre making factory on Dalston Road on January 31.

Parking at the hospital is a long-running issue that North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust and its Private Finance Initiative (PFI) partner Interserve are working to tackle. Last month a new 270-space staff car park opened near the helipad.

Pay on exit barriers will also be installed soon, while planning permission has now been granted to make the temporary car park next to Reiver House permanent.

Private firm UKPC was brought in to police the hospital car parks at both Carlisle and Whitehaven.

A spokeswoman for North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The trust would like to apologise for any distress caused to the Johnstone family while attending the hospital. As soon as we were made aware of this situation, we ensured the parking charge would be rescinded.

“The parking arrangements put in place last year were for the safety of our patients, visitors and staff and as a result, the situation has drastically improved with regards to safety, access and availability. However, the trust is continuing to work with our PFI partner to look at how situations such as the Johnstone family’s experience can be avoided.”