Ask the Experts

NHS parking: waiting times cost more

Q Blue Badge parking at two hospitals in Mansfield and Newark used to be free but in November a charge was brought in. It now costs £3 to park for up to four hours, which is about the same as the waiting time in the clinics. I have mobility problems and can’t walk without pain. When I objected to the charges I was told that all visitors had to pay the full amount and that there were no concessionary rates.

The hospitals in question are run by Sherwood Forest Hospitals, an NHS Foundation Trust, and when I complained to its senior customer services manager, I was first told that the Trust is charging disabled badge holders the same as Mansfield council and other local hospitals (not true) and only later that refunds are available to Blue Badge holders, if you are on certain benifits, a piece of information that does not appear in the new parking policy document that hospital users were sent, and that I would never have found out unless I’d asked.

I have now established that 75 per cent of Blue Badge holders could claim refunds if they had a way of finding out about them. Have you come across any other hospitals that tax the disabled in this way?
David Coleman, by email

Helen Dolphin replies: With pressures on budgets, it’s getting more common for local authorities and hospitals to charge Blue Badge holders for parking, so your hospital is not unique.

My concern with charging Blue Badge holders is that for many disabled people there is no alternative to using a private vehicle. Non-disabled people have the option of walking, cyclng or catching a bus. People with a disability mostly don’t.

In a survey carried out by Disabled Motoring UK, disabled people were shown to attend far more hospital appointments than non-disabled people, and where no concessionary rate is offered, parking charges can become astronomically high.

Some disabled people who drive but find parking fees unaffordable are having to ask for ambulance transport, which ends up costing the hospital considerably more.

Until disabled people have the same transport options as non-disabled people I believe there is a very strong case for free parking, especially when multiple appointments have to be attended.

Hospitals that charge usually have lower rates for people on benefits but, as you say, these are not widely publicised. They should be.

Can an airline refuse to carry my hoist?

Q I have just been told by a holiday company that runs holidays for disabled people that I can’t take my portable hoist on an aircraft. Can you please tell me whether that is true?  
Mary Laver, by email

Andy Wright replies: I need to know whether you are asking if your hoist can be taken into the cabin and operated to help a less mobile passenger into their seat or whether you simply want the airline to carry the hoist in the hold, so that you can use it on holiday.

Unfortunately, mainly for health and safety reasons as well as because of the very limited space available, hoists cannot be used to help passengers in and out of their cabin seats.

As far as the carriage of a hoist in the hold of an air­craft is concerned, that is a different matter. Under Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air, the law is clear that in addition to medical equipment, an air carrier shall (without extra charge) assist by trans­port­ing up to two items of mob­ility equipment per disabled person...including electric wheelchairs, subject to advance warning of 48 hours and to possible limitations of space on board the aircraft, and subject to the application of relevant legislation concerning dangerous goods.

However, as with most legislation that is non-specific and without clear direction or mandate, it is open to interpretation. And regrettably, airlines tend to interpret the above clause in different ways.

In short, some airlines say that if a hoist could be hired in the resort chosen by the holidaymaker then they will not carry it free of charge, though how they can know where mobility equipment such as a hoist can be rented is beyond me.

Other airlines will allow the carriage of a piece of mobility equipment such as a hoist, provided they have a doctor's letter confirming the need of the equipment by the passenger while on holiday.

Finally, some airlines will charge for the carriage of such equipment (on average £8 per kilo), treating it as excess baggage.

They're taking my DLA. How can I keep it?

Q Two years after being awarded DLA (Disability Living Allowance) in 2009, I’ve been reassessed and told that l no longer qualify for it, even though my condition has worsened. I recently moved to London from Lancashire and don’t yet have a GP here. I want to apply again because, for reasons beyond my control, I couldn’t appeal within the 14 days. My benefit is due to expire at the end of the month, and l need help with form filling and general day-to-day living.

I am on Jobseeker’s Allowance and will be expected to do manual labour. l’ve been told that at present this is impossible, and I’m getting very worried. Can you help or point me in the right direction?

Russell McBride, by email

Ken Butler of Disability Alliance says: It is not unusual for someone to be refused a DLA renewal in spite of their health condition having worsened, but it is odd for someone to be asked to renew their claim before it runs out.

The time limit for appealing against a decision is actually one month from the date it was issued to you and not 14 days. If you are still within that time limit, you should submit an appeal without delay.

If you are outside this time limit then it may be better to submit a new DLA claim on the expiry of your present award.

There is no requirement for someone to be registered with a GP at the time they make a DLA claim, and you should not delay any claim just because you have not yet found a new doctor in London.

Since you need help with form filling, I would urge you to seek the help and advice of a local advice centre to do this.

If you are refused DLA again, a local advice centre can usually advise you on making an appeal.

Disability Alliance produces a free downloadable fact­sheet on finding a local advice centre. Visit disabilityalliance.org/f15.htm.