Health worker abuses disabled board member at parking bay

An Auckland District Health Board worker who parked in a disabled person's carpark chose the wrong person to abuse when he was caught out.

The able-bodied employee's response that he "couldn't give a ****" turned out to be directed at a disabled member of the board that employs him.

The incident was raised at the board meeting yesterday.

Barry de Geest, the chairman of the board's disability support advisory committee, said he pointed out the disabled park in a friendly manner.

"He said he couldn't give a **** because he was dropping off heavy equipment [a computer] and he will park wherever he likes.

"He then abused me as he left. He gave me the finger salute and told me to get ****ed."

Disabled himself because his mother was prescribed the drug thalidomide during pregnancy, Mr de Geest is short and has no arms.

An elected board member, he is also the co-director of a company that helps disabled people to live independently in the community.

He said the incident happened a fortnight ago when he was in his wheelchair leaving a meeting of his committee, held at a health board rehabilitation unit in Pt Chevalier.

He said board staff had been very supportive since the incident.

Chief executive Garry Smith said it was a serious matter, but employment law prevented his saying what action might be taken against the worker.

"I have made an initial apology to Barry on behalf of the staff because it's quite unacceptable and it's being dealt with."

Mr de Geest said "mobility" parks were commonly used by unauthorised drivers. "It's a big problem. People say they are only in the park for a minute, but those parks are really important for disabled people, especially at a rehab unit."

He said disabled people who wanted to use the mobility parks had to obtain a sticker for their car, which cost $46 and was valid for five years.

He frequently told people when they were illegally using a mobility park. He always used a friendly approach, but they often abused him.

"You've got to be thick-skinned."