A CANCER patient, who was issued with a parking ticket while visiting Mount Vernon Hospital treatment centre, has had the fine overturned and will use the experience to advise others in her teaching.

Grammar school teacher Stephanie Massey, of Welwyn Garden City, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, received the fine for parking outside a marked bay at Mount Vernon in Northwood in October.

She has since heard the fine has been invalidated but labelled the decision to charge her in the first place as out of order.

Ms Massey, who is recovering well, said: “There is an important principle here that there is not enough parking for the patients.

“You cannot risk missing your treatment because the car park is full and you have spent 20 minutes looking for a space.”

She was told that she should have used a second car park at the back but said she has reduced mobility due to a knee issue.

The parking at Mount Vernon is operated by UK Parking Control, and Ms Massey said: “When they are dealing with people who are having cancer treatment, some discretion is needed.”

UKPC said the charge was cancelled on November 26 as a gesture of goodwill.

Ms Massey received support from Grant Shapps MP and Hillingdon Cllr Scott Seaman-Digby and is pleased the charge has been overturned.

She paid tribute to the excellent care she received at Mount Vernon and plans to use her experience in her teaching of politics and sociology, as well as pushing for a change in policy.