North London GP goes viral after receiving two parking fines

Doctor Malinga Ratwatte, a North London GP, has gone viral on social media after receiving a £100 parking fine while he was tending to the needs of a patient at the hospital, whose life was at risk.

Dr Ratwatte could not leave the hospital after his 12-hour shift was over as a last-minute emergency call was made to him. He then went on to help a patient who was suffocating and in critical condition.

After receiving a parking ticket, the young GP expressed his disappointment and said, “ I was dealing with a patient who had a threat to their airway. She had a traumatic event leading to the swelling of her neck. That was why I had to stay late. Even with general private parking there is usually a leeway time.”

Unfortunately, the junior doctor, who works night shifts at three London hospitals, received another £100 fine for being late after the first incident due to another emergency at work. He said that his bosses had offered to help him appeal the fines after the story spread quickly online and he received a lot of support.

As a result of the incident, the Department of Health and Social Care said that the NHS staff were allowed to park for free during the pandemic, which ended on the 31^st of March this year. However, they confirmed that free parking for staff working night shifts “will continue”.