Howdale Surgery
SD
Skydude D. 3 years ago • From Google
Average
I assisted my mum to and from her appointment, navigating the gravel car park with her walker without much difficulty. However, what caught my attention was a car occupying the sole designated handicapped hardstanding area. The driver, seemingly fit, walked into the surgery without any apparent mobility issues. Subsequently, another vehicle arrived with a frail elderly lady who needed to unload her passenger into a wheelchair. As the passenger struggled to transfer from the car seat, I stepped in to help. Once seated, the elderly lady attempted to maneuver the wheelchair through the gravel, but was impeded by the poorly parked car blocking the path. The passenger claimed he couldn't move the automatic vehicle and suggested his wife might help. She emerged and offered to relocate the car, but by then, the elderly lady and I had managed to navigate the wheelchair around the car, squeezing between the protruding wheel and nearby shrubbery. Visibly frustrated, the elderly lady told the woman not to bother moving now, and she quickly retreated inside. My frustration stems partly from the surgery's lack of additional disabled parking and primarily from the driver who unnecessarily occupied the disabled bay. Despite potentially having a blue badge, she appeared fully capable of walking briskly multiple times in and out of the surgery. A considerate person would have avoided parking in the disabled bay if not required and would have promptly moved their vehicle upon realizing the inconvenience caused to others. I hope the wheelchair user found it easier to return to his car.
MP M.