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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To use expired blue badge?

42 replies

Trampoline11 · 21/12/2022 07:39

Looking for some advice on this. My elderly DM has an emergency appointment this morning in the hospital having seen a GP yesterday. The hospital is huge and she wouldn't be able to walk (uses a frame) from the car park.

I thought of dropping her off (not sure where), parking the car and then coming back for her. I think she should be in a wheelchair tbh and will raise this today as we can't go on like this I know.

Would it be really bad if I used her expired disabled badge just for this morning? I know that it should have been renewed so feel bad about that but there isn't anything I can do about it other than feel guilty.

What would you do?

OP posts:

Munchyseeds2 · 21/12/2022 08:00

I would park the car and then go and get a wheelchair for DM to transport her in
Hope it goes well

Mrsjayy · 21/12/2022 08:00

It will work out do what you have to do hospitals are stressy enough without worrying about this.

givethistokevin · 21/12/2022 08:02

Our hospital car park attendants would stick a ticket on the car if the BB was expired because you would be parked as if you had no BB.

Bobbybobbins · 21/12/2022 08:02

If you are worried about getting fined I would get a wheelchair and take it out to her.

PuttingDownRoots · 21/12/2022 08:03

The hospital I take my DM too has a parking warden permanently by the drop off and disabled spaces...you can stop for no more than 5 mins, and there's a queue. (The other car park is 10 mins walk currently due to building work... ironically a multi story carpark!)

BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 21/12/2022 08:05

Can you call the Red Cross or a wheelchair using friend and borrow one, then you don't have to worry about where you park?

I use a wheelchair and have lent my manual one to people at short notice :)

Oblomov22 · 21/12/2022 08:05

Renewing blue badge online takes seconds. Do it this morning then when you go you can claim you've already applied.

Paperdolly · 21/12/2022 08:08

I think the taxi idea is the best suggestion yet.

Gingerkittykat · 21/12/2022 08:09

How out of date is it?

When I renewed mine it said that because of delays in processing applications you could use a BB up to 3 months outside the expiry date.

MyfavouriteisA · 21/12/2022 08:11

Phone the switchboard and they can advise you.
There are 100s of patients who need to access hospital services with temporary mobility problems, so are not entitled to blue badges, and there is usually a drop off bay to enable access and to borrow a wheelchair.
However, in case wheelchairs are scarce, I would allow plenty of time before the appointment to wait for one then to go and park your car in the car park.

Whycanineverever · 21/12/2022 08:11

At our hospital You can pull up right in front and then you can ask front desk for a wheelchair. Just allow plenty of time for them to get one in time to get to appointment.

Thisbastardcomputer · 21/12/2022 08:22

Towards the end of mother's life, me and my sister had to partner up for hospital visits, drop them off at the door and spend 15 minutes driving round to find a space.

In 15 minutes, almost anything could have cropped up, wandered off, removal of clothes, jumped on a bus.

The joys of elderly parents

DailyMailReporterTellMeAllYourSecrets · 21/12/2022 08:24

Yes, it would be extremely bad. Not because I’m on my high horse here but I know someone who did this and they were threatened with court. Managed to get off with a fine though. You probably should have arranged patient transport really.

Original poster

Trampoline11 · 21/12/2022 08:29

Thanks so much for all the replies. I rang the switchboard and she gave me directions to a quicker way to get to reception. Hopefully won't get lost. It's still a hike but at least it's not as far for DM to either be on her own or walk from the car.

Once she's in and car is in the car park, I can then sort out the wheel chair to get her to the correct department. Hoping this will work. Thanks for the advice.

OP posts:

AelinAshriver · 21/12/2022 08:31

Can you not park up in a normal space. Leave mum in the car while you go and get a wheelchair. Go back to car and fetch mum. Wheel her to appointment.

Does the Zimmer have to be at appointment also? Can you leave in car and go and retrieve whilst mum is in waiting room if you need it with you?

A pain and a lot of back and fourth for you. So perhaps prioritise the renewal so this situation is a one off.

FarmGirl78 · 21/12/2022 09:02

I think she should be in a wheelchair tbh and will raise this today as we can't go on like this I know.

I'm not sure why you've been waiting to 'raise this'. You don't need permission. If she needs a wheelchair then get her a wheelchair. You know your Mum better than a random doctor in a hospital seeing her as an emergency.

Original poster

Trampoline11 · 21/12/2022 13:31

By raising the subject, I meant with her. It's a touchy subject (I think) for a few reasons.

There are some really lovely people working in that hospital! One guy even offered to carry her down the steps from the car park. Managed to find a spot on ground level. Walked very slowly to reception and some more really lovely people there got a wheelchair and a porter. We got to the appointment in plenty of time, nurses lovely and so patient and kind. The nurse even took us back down to reception, stayed with my DM whilst I got the car, parked on double yellows for 2 mins and we were home by 12.45 pm. The result of the scan was also a positive result. Good news all round.

I will renew the badge but on this occasion it wouldn't have helped because the disabled car park is further away than where we parked.

Thanks again for your replies.

OP posts:

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