A parking warden issued fines to 'vulnerable' patients at Crawley Hospital in West Sussex despite ticket machines being broken. Sophie Ellis, 38, from Cheam in Surrey, said all machines at the hospital car park were not accepting cash or card payments during her visit for a mammogram appointment.
Ellis described the scene as 'carnage', with elderly people and those in wheelchairs 'crying' out of fear they might be fined. A nurse intervened to appeal to the warden, but people were reportedly told to appeal their tickets. Ellis said the warden insisted the machines accepted coins, pushing them through, but they were not working.
Many patients struggled to use the MiPermit app due to lack of knowledge or poor signal. Ellis eventually paid via the app but was late for her appointment despite arriving 20 minutes early. She said the experience was stressful, especially for older patients.
A council spokesperson apologised for 'any difficulties', noting a reported issue with card payments on Tuesday. They said alternatives like cash and the app remained available, and that body-worn camera footage showed the warden acted 'in an entirely professional manner'.
