Health Emergency Badge — Scheme Information
The following information is sourced from London Councils, the body responsible for administering the scheme.
What the scheme is
The Health Emergency Badge (HEB) is a parking concession scheme for healthcare professionals attending medical emergencies in patients' homes. The badge has no legal status, but all London Boroughs have agreed to the scheme, though it is not a mandatory provision.
Who may apply
Any general practice, health trust or clinic may apply for badges if they employ staff whose work involves visiting patients in their homes to provide emergency health care.
- This includes doctors, nurses, midwives and health visitors.
- It does not include para-medical practitioners such as physiotherapists, chiropodists and occupational therapists, or social workers.
Where the scheme operates
Badge holders can park in pay and display bays and residents bays without paying, and on yellow lines when necessary, provided they do not cause an obstruction or endanger other road users and do not stay longer than absolutely necessary.
The scheme does not apply on private property, red routes, motorways, or outside London Boroughs.
When the badge may be used
The badge can only be used when visiting a patient to provide emergency healthcare in their home. Emergency healthcare may include:
- A situation in which a patient needs immediate treatment to avoid possible loss of life, or where life-saving equipment in the home has failed.
- A patient needing immediate treatment to alleviate acute pain or other distressing symptoms.
- Imminent childbirth or immediate post-natal treatment.
- A child in danger or a person at risk of violent attack.
- A patient suffering a mental health emergency and posing a risk to themselves or others.
When it is not appropriate to use the badge
Users are not covered by the scheme for:
- Parking at their normal place of work.
- Parking for routine or non-emergency home visits.
- Parking at hospitals or clinics.
- Parking in doctor's, ambulance or hospital bays allocated to another user.