Gerard Heatley says he has asked the ambulance service repeatedly to stop blocking his driveway
A vulnerable and deaf West Belfast man has hit out at the ambulance service as he finds himself repeatedly blocked into his driveway by inconsiderate parking.
Gerard Heatley says that he has asked the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to tell its drivers to stop parking their non-emergency patient ambulances in front of his driveway as he is regularly left stuck in his home.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Gerard said that he has been verbally abused by ambulance drivers when getting his deaf and blue mobility badges for them when asking them to move their vehicle.
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He also claims that despite installing signs at the front of his home asking for the driveway not to be blocked due to a disabled person living there, these have been constantly ignored.
He says that the non-emergency ambulances block his driveway three to four times a week as they arrive to collect someone living in the area.
Gerard said: “Hospitals, medical centres and GP practices have signage saying that staff must not be abused as they are providing a service to the public, however patient ambulance crews are being allowed to abuse a Deaf, disabled and vulnerable person in Andersonstown, West Belfast.
“I have been verbally abused several times whilst getting my Deaf badges and blue Motability Vehicle badge to ask patient ambulance crews to stop blocking and obstructing my driveway and I have put the attached signs on my fence but again ambulance crews are ignoring the signs. They are also ignoring the road markings on the ramp outside my home.”
A NIAS spokesperson said: “We are aware of a number of complaints received from this gentleman and have provided feedback regarding these to the relevant independent ambulance provider. We will continue to work with partners to mitigate the risk of further instances in the future.”
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