Blue Badges for Temporary Disabilities

[Petitionforchange]

I dislocated my knee badly in November and I’m still on crutches and struggling with mobility. I feel strongly that a temporary ‘blue badge’ for parking could make a huge difference to me and many like me.
My idea is that this could be issued immediately by a doctor or consultant and stamped to last for a certain period of time. All patients with a short term mobility issue would be eligible. The suggestion is that the badge would be a different colour, perhaps purple, to denote it as temporary. It wouldn’t allow free parking but would allow the user to park in wider disabled bays.
if you’ve ever been on crutches, I’m sure you’ll appreciate what a difference this could make. Please sign my petition: https://c.org/VDfSWnj8hT

No Why?

I'd bet a large sum that 95% of people would choose the ones closest to the shop/whatever, regardless of need.

Why should someone with a disability have to have their independence compromised? If they have mobility issues parking in a normal bay might not be possible.

My dad had severe mobility issues. He had a car with a hoist in the boot to lift his mobility scooter in and out. He had a car adapted to use hand controls as his left leg hardly worked. He needed a disabled space for the width as he really struggled to get out of the car unless the door was wide open, and also to be near the entrance if he was trying to walk. My poor mum was already run ragged as his carer. Him being able to drive himself to the shops or to a NT place for coffee made a world of difference to her.

Just saw this. Is the op poster, Helen Grant MP?

I do sympathise OP. I was on crutches for 2 months and then in a wheelchair for the last 3 months when I was pregnant. It was hugely limiting, particularly even being able to get out of the car at all in some places. But it was also (relatively) short term.

Whereas my DF now has a blue badge and it took a lot of time and assessments for him to prove he needed it and get it.

I dont know how you could administer short term versions or manage the risk of massive amounts of abuse.

I agree with the PPs who have said it is nonsense, and actually insulting to anyone with short or long term disabilities, to suggest that mobility issues mean that you can’t drive. If this were the case and it was simply a question of ‘bring dropped off at the door’ there would be no need for blue badges at all really would there.

Quite honestly, it’s also insulting to permanently disabled people that you view a temporary injury to be the same as theirs, and trump their needs with your ludicrous proposed scheme.

Agreed. I find the OP more insulting than that poster.

It feels very much like it's pulling up the drawbridge.

Surely things like BB spaces should be based on the need for them, not the estimated duration of an injury or disability.

There can be strict guidelines for the sorts of temporary disabilities that the proposed scheme could apply to, but it would be an absolute lifeline to hundreds of thousands of people on waiting lists who are denied BB's often for years, people with illnesses that are likely to last many months but might not make it over a year etc.

If it means we build more spaces, then so be it.

I’ve been waiting almost five months now for my blue badge to be renewed, it expired two weeks ago, and I’ve massively struggled without it, I collapsed on my way to a hospital appointment because I had to walk six times further than I safely can to try and make my much needed consultant appointment, I’m really not pulling the the drawbridge up, that bridge isn’t really ever let down for many disabled people.

OP suggesting that there’s some kind of fast track where a gp or a constant can approve them sounds ok in theory, but the wait lists to see consultants has been longer than my wait for my blue badge at times, there’s also been a change to the referal process with the nhs at the start of this month, I’m assuming Op isn’t aware of those changes, its going to get a lot harder to be referred to a consultant under the mandatory advice and guidance changes that’s just been brought in, GPs will be managing a lot of patients who would have been under secondary care, it’s already hard for many to get a gp appointment, it’s about to get even harder now these changes are in place, where are all these consistent and gp appointments going to come from for those who want a temp disabled badge?And then where are all these extra spaces supposed to come from?

A temporary disability that, in my case, has lasted 5 months so far and is still on-going and that has had a massive impact on my day to day mobility is significant though. I am not suggesting a blue badge for such (hopefully) temporary injuries but an alternative option that makes life just a little easier for those who are struggling. I totally agree @Babyboomtasticwith what you said. To be honest, I know a number of people who have blue badges whose mobility right now is far far better than mine. Short term injuries can be massively incapacitating and a short term measure could be hugely helpful.

I don’t think op has said her scheme trumps anyone, or that a temporary situation is the same as being permanently disabled. Also, if there’s problems in the Blue badge scheme, that should rightly be rectified. However, it’s a recognition that those who have had surgery etc can also face immobility and may also need assistance.

Wouldn't the answer to that be to issue temporary badges to people with disabilities while they wait for the full one to be processed?

can you imagine the number of bad back badges that would be dished out. Sorry OP. It isn't workable

DM isn’t on higher rate disability benefits (or any benefits) but she does qualify for a blue badge.

Under the proposed system you'd have been given a temporary badge at that consultants appointment.

It is totally drawing up the bridge if you are against a system that is based on need, which will exclude some of those that need the blue badge the most.

Issuing them at a hospital, not GP level and with very strict criteria will help ensure only those in great need will get them.

You've seen how difficult it is without your blue badge, so how can you justify denying that access to someone who's mobility is far far worse than yours, but who (waiting list dependent) may improve in several years? It's very easy for someone to assume this is about a broken leg that will heal in a few weeks, but it's often about impairment that lasts far longer.

issued immediately by a doctor or consultant and stamped to last for a certain period of time. All patients with a short term mobility issue would be eligible.

The OP suggests Dr's should issue them, not specifically consultants and states that all short term conditions should be covered, hers is a dislocation. We would need so many disabled spaces that a) the walk wouldn't be any shorter because they can't all be next to shop b) parking without a badge would be very limited so there would be an even greater incentive to game the system to get a badge.

The system doesn’t work well enough for people who have long term disabilities. Let’s fix that first!

I have spent 6 months plus on crutches before after knee injuries (and a chunk of rhat unable to bend if at all) I get how hard it can be. But it’s still nothing compared to what the blue badge holders I know are dealing with! I could go out it was rough but it was possible, without access to disabled parking people like DS are often unable to go out.

I have a lifelong disability and have to pay £50 for every doctor's letter to support my blue badge application. I was turned down on the first application and had to reapply with a consultant letter. It took me two years and a lot of effort and luck to get the consultant letter. The current system can be abused (by family members using the badge for example) but also it is not easy to get a blue badge in the first place in my experience.

I know what you're saying but the process takes time at the moment and I think this would be an issue for those in long term need, by clogging up the system.

Presumably with the type of injury you're talking about, you are unlikely to be the one driving anyway. If you have someone with you, then they can drop you near where you need and then park, can't they? It's v difficult getting a blue badge space much of the time where I live as it stands. I think this would be bad for people with disabilities.

Disability is not temporary by definition.

You should try to apply for one now as rules between local authorities vary. What you are doing sounds awfully stressful for you and the wheel chair user.

I am not on disability benefits and just used a two line letter from my doctor to get a BB . I had not applied for one for years as I thought I would not qualify ( physically disabled and fall a lot despite crutches ) but I got it within a few days and it has made life so much less stressful - though it is still hard to park as 1 in 20 people now have blue badges

1 in 20 people now have blue badges according to a newspaper report at the weekend.

I sympathise with people temporarily on crutches because I have used crutches for years and have a BB. When I go out I have to go first thing to get a BB space at the only local supermarket I can drive to - otherwise I end up going home as I need a wide space to get out of the car and cannot walk far because of falling.

Any temporary BB or purple badge provision would have to come with an increase in spaces as otherwise those of us restricted by mobility issues would be even more restricted than we are currently.

In order for this to work, you’d have to reform the process for getting a BB.

it takes months and pip paperwork or multiple input from medical professionals and you have to pay for it.

And you’d need far more spaces.

Don't be daft. Of course disability can be temporary 🙄.

If someone has severely reduced mobility due to arthritis, does the hope of a hip replacement at some point mean they aren't disabled?

What about someone severely impacted by cancer and it's treatment, who may in time make a full recovery?

Also, short term injuries/illnesses aren't disabilities, but they can be disabling.

Disability, as defined by law, can absolutely be temporary. But it must last (or be expected to last) for at least 12 months.

As far as I'm aware, people can apply for blue badges for temporary disabilities, providing that they meet the criteria.

Short term incapacity of less than a year is not a disability, though it can of course be very disruptive for people.

I think the solution would be to allow people with short term mobility issues to park in parent and child spaces or similar.