Man with terminal cancer ‘going through hell’ waiting for blue parking badge

A man with terminal cancer has been going ‘through hell’ waiting almost three months for a disabled blue badge.

Michael Sparkes says he has been unable to get out and about without the parking badge, as he needs to use a wheelchair.

He was diagnosed with a rare and an aggressive form thyroid cancer, months after he discovered a small lump.

Specialists initially dismissed it as a cyst in November 2018 but his health rapidly deteriorated.

The 70-year-old was then given the devastating news of his cancer diagnosis in January this year.

‘He was such a fit and healthy man before he got unwell, but now we have carers giving him round the clock care. It’s really difficult to see him like this’, his wife Hilary Sparkes said.

MacMillan Cancer Support helped Michael apply for the badge on February 21, and told him that he would be fast tracked by Nottinghamshire County Council due to his condition.

But nearly three months later, he is still yet to receive it.

Hilary, 64,told Lincolnshire Live: ‘I love to take Michael into Retford, but I struggle move him around. The regular car parks are a long way away from the centre and the wheelchair just causes havoc on my wrists.

‘His condition is really difficult for him to live with and the wait we have had to go through is putting us through hell.

‘We’ve been married for 43 years and I want to make sure that I am giving him the best quality of life in his final months – the blue badge would help a great deal in that.

‘We have both worked extremely hard all of our lives and this is the only benefit that we have ever asked for.

‘We’ve all got our sell-by date and Michael completely understands that, but he has to make the most of what he has left.’

Nottinghamshire County Council said it is now in the process of sending a blue badge out to the couple.

Councillor Stuart Wallace, Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s adult social care and health committee said: ‘We can confirm there was an issue in the processing of Mr Sparkes badge, this was largely due to a delay in us receiving Mr Sparkes application form from his medical professional.

‘The initial email application was never received however, as soon as we were made aware of this, we asked the medical professional to re-send the application.

‘Upon receipt, this was actioned immediately and processed the same day. Mr Sparkes’ badge is now with the fulfilment team and will be sent out to him in the next few days.’