THINGS have come to a sorry pass when a junior doctor, about to start a shift at one of our short-staffed hospitals, is threatened with wheel clamping as she reports for work.

Dr Gill Lyons was understandably fuming after her encounter with parking attendants at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

She was forced to park in a disabled spot because all other spaces, except on the "hallowed ground" where consultants park, were taken.

She was told her car would be clamped and it was only when she said she had been in contact with this newspaper that officials relented.

We understand the problems at the infirmary. It was built in an age when consultants and doctors arrived in horse-drawn buggies and there was no need to provide parking facilities.

Today doctors, nurses, medical staff, visitors and out patients turn up in cars.

In desperation Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust turned to a private car park management company.

But they should have insisted that all doctors and key medical staff who work on the wards of the infirmary were provided with parking facilities.

Junior doctors work incredibly long hours and they should not have to suffer the stress and indignity of being chased by clampers.

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