Hospital bosses say they have received 40 complaints over a new controversial parking policy at Macclesfield Hospital.

The ParkingEye system electronically records the registration of vehicles entering and leaving the hospital site, and uses the data to enforce parking penalties.

Customers now have to input their registration details when paying for parking.

However, some drivers say they have received fines after dropping off patients and did not realise they had to pay.

A mother told the Express she was fined after taking a poorly child in for emergency care, and a member of the hospital’s staff said they received a fine after dropping off a patient. But hospital chiefs say that the new rules are clearly signed.

Parking for disabled Blue Badge holders has remained free, but one disabled badge holder was left facing £210 in fines after visits to the hospital.

Toni Wallace-Gidding, a retired sales manager from Legh Road in Prestbury, said: “I visit the hospital at least once a week after suffering a stroke, but I didn’t know about the new system until a fine fell though my letter box.

“I got one in early February that would have cost £70 if we didn’t pay within a fortnight, or £40 if we do, and then two more were delivered just a few days after that.

“There is very little signage at the hospital telling people the system is changing, and the signs in the car park are 6 or 7ft up, which you couldn’t see in a wheelchair.”

Parking was previously enforced by the hospital’s security staff, which it is claimed was time-consuming and drew them away from other duties.

Since writing to the company, ParkingEye have now quashed two of the fines Mrs Wallace-Gidding was being asked to pay.

Mrs Wallace-Gidding added: “As long as you’re registered you don’t get charged but now we’re still facing one fine. I have written to ParkingEye to appeal to that as well but they didn’t respond. This is stress that people don’t need when visiting the hospital. And it is still stressful even if they do eventually get rescinded.”

The hospital’s trust was not charged for the installation of the system, which began to be enforced in mid-January. Instead the cost was met by ParkingEye, which retains revenue from any parking fines. All parking revenue is retained by the trust.

A ParkingEye spokesperson said: “Car park users enter into a contract to pay the appropriate tariff for the duration of their visit or to not exceed free parking limits. A parking charge becomes payable if the terms and conditions of the car park are not adhered to.

“We operate an industry-leading audited appeals process as detailed on the parking charge notice and encourage individuals to appeal if they feel there are extenuating circumstances. To date we have not received an appeal against [Mrs Wallace-Gidding’s outstanding] parking charge.

“ParkingEye is a member of the British Parking Association’s Approved Operator Scheme and is required to follow a code of practice which is supported by motoring organisations, consumer groups and the DVLA.”

Hospital defends the new parking scheme

A spokesperson for East Cheshire NHS Trust said: “Until recently, many motorists were not paying for parking, parking in the wrong areas or parking inconsiderately.

“The trust is now working with ParkingEye.

“It is only when our parking policy is not adhered to without valid reasons that motorists will be required to pay parking charge notices.

“We would like to reassure patients and visitors that a thorough and fair appeals process is in place, and that PCNs will be cancelled in cases with genuine mitigating circumstances.

“We have made every effort to make people aware of the new system, including signage, road markings, prominent displays in numerous hospital areas and main entrances and publicity via the trust website and local media.

“The new system allows up to 20 minutes for drop-offs and pick-ups in visitor parking areas. Visitors who spend any longer than 20 minutes in a visitor car park, even if they do not leave their vehicle, should pay the appropriate fee to avoid a parking charge notice being issued.

“We believe the new parking arrangements will benefit everyone by protecting the right spaces for the right use and preventing opportunistic, dangerous and inconsiderate parking which affects everyone.”