Frankston Hospital ED nurse slams council for using parking fines as a ‘money making racket’
A FRANKSTON Hospital Emergency Department nurse has accused council of using parking fines as a “money making racket”.
South East
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A FRANKSTON Hospital Emergency Department nurse has accused council of using parking fines as a “money making racket”.
The nurse, who didn’t want to be identified, was fuming after copping two $79 fines in consecutive days while parked in a street near the hospital.
She was unable to move her car by the time the period she was allowed to park there expired as she was assisting with critically ill patients.
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The nurse asked the council to waive the fines due to “exceptional circumstances”, but she said it refused.
She said the council argued what assisting critically ill people was just part of her job and did not constitute exceptional circumstances.
“It’s not the $79 — it’s the principle. The fact they are saying it’s not exceptional circumstances — I don’t get it. It’s a money making racket.”
The nurse said she had grudgingly paid the fine, adding: “To me, it’s an exceptional circumstance. I could not leave the patients.”
Frankston Council chief executive Dennis Hovenden said the council had been in ongoing contact with Frankston Hospital management regarding staff parking around the hospital while vital car park works were being carried out.
“In order to assist staff with parking during this time, the council has implemented a number of parking arrangements which has resulted in a total of over 730 parking spaces within proximity to the hospital allocated specifically to hospital staff,” Mr Hovenden said.
He said under the Infringements Act 2006, the reasons provided in this situation did not constitute as “exceptional circumstances” for an exemption.
In a brief statement, Peninsula Health executive director of infrastructure services, Peter Lotz, said the organisation was looking forward to opening its new 750-space multistorey car park this summer at Frankston Hospital.
“We have worked with council to manage parking around the hospital for both patients and staff during the construction phase.”