Latest news with #GatesheadHealthNHSFoundationTrust
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Gateshead NHS trust fixes broken patient scan system
An NHS trust has restored full access to a critical system which is used to read hospital 7 April, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust said staff had lost the ability to fully access a system called PACS which is used to view X-rays as well as MRI and CT trust said this had resulted in changes to appointments and longer wait times for some Thursday, trust official Joanne Halliwell said the system had been fully restored and the focus was now on rebooking appointments which had been cancelled. A spokesperson had previously said the technical issue was not related to any cyber-security Halliwell said: "We want to send our sincerest apologies to any patients who may have been impacted." The trust said it did not know how many patients had been affected by the issue with the digital system, adding that in many cases appointments had been moved to another day. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Unclear when Gateshead patient scan system will be fixed
An NHS trust has said it is "still too early" to say when full access to a critical system which reads hospital scans will be 7 April, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust said staff had lost the ability to fully access a system called PACS, which is used to view X-rays as well as MRI and CT trust said this had resulted in changes to appointments and longer wait times for some trust has said it is trialling a series of potential solutions to the problem, but it remains unclear when systems will return to normal. 'Truly sorry' A spokesperson said the technical issue was not related to any cyber-security trust said it didn't know how many patients had been impacted by the PACS issues, adding that, in many cases, appointments had simply been moved to another staff are also working different hours, seeking times when there might be less pressure on the system, the trust from the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), neighbouring organisations and its PACS supplier have been helping the trust to identify the "root cause" of the trust added that early testing of potential solutions had been "positive".A spokesperson stressed the trust's emergency department and urgent treatment centres remain open to official Joanne Halliwell said: "We understand how upsetting and frustrating this situation is for our patients, their loved ones, and our dedicated staff, and we are truly sorry for the disruption it has caused." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I was fined £250 after hospital parking machine said I didn't need to pay
A motorist faces a £252 parking bill from a hospital visit three years ago – despite being told he did not have to pay. Gordon Clark, 71, and his wife Jennifer visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead on August 12, 2022 to see a friend and stayed for an hour and 13 minutes. They arrived at 6.09pm and left at 7.22pm, but when they entered the registration details of the Renault Captur in the machine Mr Clark said the message displayed on the parking machine read: 'No payment required'. He said he was shocked weeks later to receive a fixed penalty notice charge for £40 from ParkingEye, the company that manages the hospital's car parks using number plate recognition technology. He said: 'I checked the registration with my wife and I inputted the number again and received the same message. 'We left the car park and returned home only to receive a parking charge notice through the post two weeks later. 'I have disputed this with ParkingEye. However, their blind faith in the infallibility of their equipment has kept them pursuing me since, questioning my honesty and integrity. 'My wife and I are both retired and have always paid our dues.' Mr Clark, who worked as a construction consultant, lives in Medburn near Ponteland. He said: 'I have asked ParkingEye to request an explanation from their equipment supplier as to how this has happened and also how many other motorists have experienced the same issue. 'I have never received a response but have instead received many letters stating they maintain their position followed by threatening letters from a third-party debt collection agency and a court letter for over £250 for a less than £3 parking fee. 'As far as we were concerned there was no charge. As a matter of principle, I do not want to pay it. I am absolutely incensed.' Mr Clark said he intends to fight the matter in court if necessary. He said: 'The debt collection agency's language is getting more and more threatening. We don't believe we are alone, there will be other people like us out there. 'I think most people have caved in because they can't be bothered with the hassle. This has caused me a lot of aggro. I am having chemotherapy at the minute and my wife is recovering from major surgery. It is something we don't flaming need. It is so frustrating. I just wish I had taken a picture of the damn thing.' Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said ParkingEye was an independent contractor responsible for managing the parking arrangements on the site. A spokesperson for the trust said: 'While we do not have the full details of Mr Clark's case and so cannot comment on his situation, we are sorry for any distress caused by this issue. ParkingEye is an independent contractor which manages the car parking payment and penalty notice system on our behalf. 'If patients or visitors speak to us about parking issues, we will always try to assist, particularly where people have had problems with the payment system or exemptions. 'Although Gateshead Health is not involved in the operational management or the enforcement of ParkingEye's policies, nor in the issuance of fines, we will offer advice and assistance where possible.' ParkingEye has been contacted for comment but not responded. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
30-03-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
I was fined £250 after hospital parking machine said I didn't need to pay
A motorist faces a £252 parking bill from a hospital visit three years ago – despite being told he did not have to pay. Gordon Clark, 71, and his wife Jennifer visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospita l in Gateshead on August 12, 2022 to see a friend and stayed for an hour and 13 minutes. They arrived at 6.09pm and left at 7.22pm, but when they entered the registration details of the Renault Captur in the machine Mr Clark said the message displayed on the parking machine read: 'No payment required'. He said he was shocked weeks later to receive a fixed penalty notice charge for £40 from ParkingEye, the company that manages the hospital's car parks using number plate recognition technology. He said: 'I checked the registration with my wife and I inputted the number again and received the same message. 'We left the car park and returned home only to receive a parking charge notice through the post two weeks later. 'I have disputed this with ParkingEye. However, their blind faith in the infallibility of their equipment has kept them pursuing me since, questioning my honesty and integrity. 'My wife and I are both retired and have always paid our dues.' Mr Clark, who worked as a construction consultant, lives in Medburn near Ponteland. He said: 'I have asked ParkingEye to request an explanation from their equipment supplier as to how this has happened and also how many other motorists have experienced the same issue. I am absolutely incensed 'I have never received a response but have instead received many letters stating they maintain their position followed by threatening letters from a third-party debt collection agency and a court letter for over £250 for a less than £3 parking fee. 'As far as we were concerned there was no charge. As a matter of principle, I do not want to pay it. I am absolutely incensed.' Mr Clark said he intends to fight the matter in court if necessary. He said: 'The debt collection agency's language is getting more and more threatening. We don't believe we are alone, there will be other people like us out there. 'I think most people have caved in because they can't be bothered with the hassle. This has caused me a lot of aggro. I am having chemotherapy at the minute and my wife is recovering from major surgery. It is something we don't flaming need. It is so frustrating. I just wish I had taken a picture of the damn thing.' We are sorry for any distress Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said ParkingEye was an independent contractor responsible for managing the parking arrangements on the site. A spokesperson for the trust said: 'While we do not have the full details of Mr Clark's case and so cannot comment on his situation, we are sorry for any distress caused by this issue. ParkingEye is an independent contractor which manages the car parking payment and penalty notice system on our behalf. 'If patients or visitors speak to us about parking issues, we will always try to assist, particularly where people have had problems with the payment system or exemptions. 'Although Gateshead Health is not involved in the operational management or the enforcement of ParkingEye's policies, nor in the issuance of fines, we will offer advice and assistance where possible.'
