A nursing practitioner at a hospital in London, who was handed thousands of pounds worth of car park fines whilst caring for Covid patients, has called on private parking firms to consider the wider impact of handing out penalties.

'Sunshine', whose name has been altered at her request, was left with a significant hit to her credit rating and unable to buy a new home for herself and her two children after being handed a series of charges.

The issues began to arise after the hospital gave her, and colleagues, permission to park for free due the difficult conditions and staff shortages caused by the Covid pandemic – providing a permit was displayed.

Due to the hours she worked, 'Sunshine' was often left struggling to retrieve her permit due to the issuing office being closed.

As a result, she was handed a series of fines and faced with two claims against her – costing her thousands of pounds.

After struggling to find an alternative way forward, Sunshine paid the fines imposed by the two claims against her.

With support from Knights, she was able to overturn these – regaining the money she’d lost.

"I do feel that we, as staff looking after unwell, Covid patients, were not being valued. It seems like there was no sympathy at all and it was a surprise to be hit with these fines.

I think the parking firms, not only in my case, need to look properly before they penalise every individual - especially when it impact your credit score. They maybe should be a little more cautious for what they’re doing, not just giving penalties because it impacts people badly."