A PRIVATE clamping firm today defended its decision to clamp an ambulance while its driver helped a seriously ill patient into a hospital clinic.
Health workers were left stunned when the ambulance from Hampstead's Royal Free Hospital was clamped outside a kidney dialysis unit in Mandela Street, Camden.
Driver Joan George had left the ambulance for just one minute last Thursday to help a patient into the clinic. When she returned, the yellow clamp was already being locked to the wheel.
A warden refused to listen to her pleas and said he would only remove the clamp if she handed over more than £200 as a fine.
Ms George said: "I was wearing my uniform and the vehicle is clearly an ambulance - it has the words written down the side, as well as Royal Free NHS Trust. It could not be clearer."
Ambulance manager Clem Fraser, who contacted the company and asked for a refund (which has since been refused), said: "Our driver simply pulled in and helped the patient out of the vehicle. It took no time at all - we have vehicle tracking equipment and can prove she pulled in at 12.38. The ticket and clamp was put on at 12.39 - they gave us one minute to help a seriously ill person into a hospital unit for treatment. They refused outright to stop putting the clamp on. This is just crazy."
A spokesman for private clamping company London Parking Control Limited said yesterday there would be no refund, insisting that there were clear signs warning drivers not to park at that spot. He said the ambulance counted as a "private vehicle".
The spokesman said. "Private ambulances are not exempt from parking fines and the drivers often abuse the fact that the vehicle says ambulance. Newspapers will always write negative things about clamping companies but imagine it was your bay at home and somebody parked in it. What would you do?"
Ambulance clamped as patient is helped into clinic | News
