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'Hell of a thank you': Melbourne ICU doctor hit with parking ticket after 56-hour slog

A Melbourne doctor was gobsmacked to receive a parking fine after slogging it out for 56 hours in a city intensive care unit (ICU) looking after some of the state’s sickest coronavirus patients.

On Tuesday morning, Dr Katarina Arandjelovic explained she discovered the parking ticket sitting on her car’s dashboard after completing her shift at Royal Melbourne’s Hospital in the ICU.

“I worked 56 hours over four days in helping look after some of our state’s sickest patients,” she tweeted.

In her tweet, Dr Arandjelovic mentioned and tagged both the City of Melbourne and Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

“We cannot work from home. We come here, and we sweat it out under our gowns, our voices muffled under masks, learning to ‘smile with our eyes’,” Dr Arandjelovic continued.

“We wash our hands obsessively, hoping desperately we do not become part of That Statistic. We do not see our families for weeks.”

She said slapping fines on health workers fines was “one hell of a thank you”, while frontline workers continue to put themselves at risk amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Arandjelovic explained her bike was stolen from outside the hospital the day before the lockdown and to prevent exposing herself and, in turn her colleagues and patients, to the virus, public transport is “off limits”.

“Your ‘free permits’ are long gone. There were too few to begin with. Many missed out,” she said.

Due to the surge of coronavirus cases in Victoria, the state implemented another lockdown, limiting the movements of people within the state, and in particular in Melbourne, which is under Australia’s strictest lockdown.

“In lockdown, who do you think is parking in the streets by the hospital? It is the doctors, nurses, orderlies, pharmacists, physios, technicians, cleaners, cooks, ward clerks,” she said.

“So when you send a parking inspector to Parkville, know that it is these people you are targeting.”

A doctor at The Royal Melbourne Hospital was slapped with a parking fine after treating patients all day amid the coronavirus pandemic. Source: AAP
A doctor at The Royal Melbourne Hospital was slapped with a parking fine after treating patients all day amid the coronavirus pandemic. Source: AAP

Dr Arandjelovic’s tweets have since gone viral, with people angry a doctor would be fined over parking amid the pandemic.

The City of Melbourne responded to Dr Arandjelovic on Twitter, saying the council recognised the “invaluable” role healthcare workers.

“Hi Katarina, vehicles parked in residential parking areas with red signs are still subject to restrictions,” the City of Melbourne tweeted.

“We recognise the invaluable work our health workers are doing, that’s why we’ve issued 9900 parking passes to frontline workers, including to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.”

However, hours after first responding to Dr Arandjelovic on Twitter, the City of Melbourne tweeted once her once again, saying they had “missed the mark” and said they had withdrawn the fine.

Extra parking permits for health care workers

In a press release provided to Yahoo News Australia, the City of Melbourne announced 5000 additional temporary parking permits would be provided to frontline workers from Friday, meaning 15,000 permit would have been issued in total.

“Health workers are doing an amazing job at this difficult time. We understand they are playing a critical role saving the lives of many Victorians who have been diagnosed with COVID-19,” the Lord Mayor said in the statement.

“We are printing thousands more green dashboard stickers to support frontline staff responding to the pandemic. If you believe you got a ticket when you shouldn’t have please get in touch with the City of Melbourne and we will follow up.”

Extra permits will be made available to hospitals based in the City of Melbourne, Victoria Police, and medical staff working in other COVID-19 related areas, according to Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood.

“The frontline permits support all the people who are sacrificing so much for us right now,” the Deputy Lord Mayor said.

“If you believe you’re a frontline worker responding to COVID-19 please contact your employer about whether they can issue you with a frontline pass.”

Parking restrictions still apply, Melbourne mayor says

Mayor Capp also responded to the Twitter thread, reiterating council is asking everyone to park where there is a green sign, if they have a parking pass.

“Red signs - such as clear ways, residential permit areas & loading zones - are still being enforced,” she said.

Paid parking restrictions still apply in Melbourne and permits will be reviewed on a weekly basis until coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

“Disability Parking Spaces and those Parking spaces with red signs in the municipality, such as ‘No Stopping areas’, tow-away clearways, loading zones, and residential permit zones will still be enforced,” the council said in the media release.

The tweets caused such a stir, Premier Daniel Andrews was questioned about it during a press conference on Tuesday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he did not believe healthcare workers should be slapped with parking fines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Source:  AAP
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said he did not believe healthcare workers should be slapped with parking fines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Source: AAP

“I don't think that someone who's in there literally saving lives at considerable risk to themselves should be the subject of a parking ticket,” Mr Andrews said, while pointing out parking fines and inspectors are an issue for local government.

Asked if parking inspectors were considered essential workers during the lockdown, Mr Andrews said he wasn’t sure if all parking inspectors across the state were working but would follow up the specific incident.

It does appear a stranger paid the fine for Dr Arandjelovic, providing her with a receipt number, before the council withdrew the fine.

On Tuesday afternoon Dr Arandjelovic said she was “deeply appreciative” of the kindness she had received since.

“I am humbled by the (unexpected!) support this post has received, and am deeply appreciative of the kindness the community has shown healthcare workers,” she said on Twitter.

“In concert with this - thank you for washing your hands, wearing a mask, staying at home and practicing physical distancing.”

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