Nurse trapped in Perry Barr lift while treating baby faces parking fine

A community nurse who was trapped in a lift while on her way to treat a sick baby in Perry Barr is facing a £266 parking charge and the threat of court action.

Lisa Smith, 48, and a colleague were called to a fifth-floor flat in a block in Perry Barr Village on 3 November last year. She drove an NHS pool car to the area and, unable to find anywhere else to park, used a permit-only bay, where medical staff are allowed to stop for 30 minutes.

Stuck between floors

Because they were carrying their medical kits, the two nurses took the lift, but it got stuck. "We went into the building, there was a lift, the doors closed but it didn't move and the doors didn't open," she said.

"We pressed the buzzer a few times but nobody was answering, so we banged on the door. Eventually one of the other residents came out, pried the doors open and said it was 'always happening'."

After between 20 and 30 minutes they were freed, and climbed the rest of the way. The baby was taken to hospital. Ms Smith was delayed further when her colleague helped someone carry a pushchair to the top floor, and they spent an hour and 15 minutes at the block in total.

A court order

Ms Smith was off work through illness and did not learn of the charge, issued by Civil Enforcement Ltd, until February, by which time a court order had been issued for £266. She is now appealing.

"It is really stressful," she said. "I could end up with a county court judgement. I was just doing my job. Basically, I just want to ask them, 'what would you do if it was your kid?'"

"If I had to park a long way away and had to carry my kit, what would they expect me to do in that situation?"

Civil Enforcement Ltd has been asked to comment.

MP takes up the case

Ms Smith's case has been taken up by Sonia Kumar, the MP for Dudley, where she lives. "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," Ms Kumar said.

"I have asked the company to look at the facts and cancel this charge. Nurses should be able to do their jobs without this hanging over them."

Private parking under scrutiny

Charges on private land, such as residential car parks, are issued by private firms rather than councils, and are a form of contract charge rather than a fine. Drivers who believe a charge is unfair can appeal to the company, and then to an independent appeals service if the company is a member of an accredited trade body.

The prime minister, Andy Burnham, has promised an end to "rip-off parking charges" under new rules for the private parking industry, which has long been criticised for aggressive enforcement.

Community nurses visit patients at home across Birmingham every day, often carrying heavy equipment, and health unions have repeatedly raised concerns about the difficulty of finding somewhere to park close to patients' homes, especially in blocks of flats with restricted parking.