Hospital patient cops a fine
BIG-HEARTED David Hennessy drove himself to Rockhampton Hospital because he didn't want to tie up an ambulance.
But he copped a $40 parking fine for the selfless gesture when he was admitted for three days and was unable to move his car.
The 19-year-old Rockhampton man is the latest victim of the hospital's long-running parking problems and yesterday his mum, Sher Hennessy, said it was an outrageous situation.
Being a disability worker, Ms Hennessy said she was concerned for elderly and disabled patients who could not walk long distances if forced to park in side streets near the hospital.
She said David had a long running heart condition and had felt some minor heart pains at work. "He was like 'I don't want the fuss' so he drove himself," she said.
Mr Hennessy was admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit for three days, unable to move his car parked in a hospital side street.
When Ms Hennessy drove the car home that night for security reasons she discovered a parking ticket tucked under the windscreen wiper.
Ms Hennessy intends to dispute the fine but was concerned about the legal costs of taking on the council.
The Morning Bulletin contacted the council who said Mr Hennessy could contest the fine with a written statutory declaration.
A council spokesperson said some fines could be dismissed under unique circumstances.
But Ms Hennessy was unconvinced this solved the larger parking issue facing council.
Acting executive director of Rockhampton Hospital, Shelley Nowlan, said there were no plans to expand the carpark in the immediate future.
