Hospital wheel clamps ambulances
Updated on 11 July 2008
A leading hospital is clamping ambulances for parking infringements.
Security staff at King's College Hospital in south London are clamping the non-emergency ambulances for spending too long in drop off bays.
Twenty ambulances, owned by Caring For You (CFY) - a firm that provides patient transport for the hospital, have this year been clamped by the hospital, forcing CFY to pay a £50 release fee each time.
Mark Graver, head of corporate communications at the hospital in Denmark Hill, confirmed the CFY vehicles were being clamped but stressed they were for non-emergency use.
A statement from the hospital said: "King's College Hospital has a contract with Caring For You (CFY) to provide transport services for patients who are unable to travel to and from their appointments by public or private transport.
"As part of this contract, King's issues guidelines to CFY which specify where and for how long drivers are to park.
"These guidelines are designed to help allow patient transport vehicles, taxis, private cars and emergency vehicles to move through the hospital site freely, as well as ensuring the safety of pedestrians.
"Only patient transport vehicles are involved - the hospital is NOT clamping emergency response ambulances."
Mr Graver added that patients transported by CFY vehicles had not dialled 999, the vehicles were not driven by paramedics and were not equipped with blue emergency lights.
Representatives for CFY declined to comment.
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