A social media video showing two vehicles being towed from Port of Spain General Hospital has sparked public discussion, prompting official clarification from the North-West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) on its longstanding parking enforcement practices.
In the circulating clip, a female voiceoff accuses the health authority of unfairly targeting hospital staff amid a widespread parking shortage, claiming employees are left with no legal parking spaces yet have their vehicles impounded for parking violations. The viral footage quickly drew sympathy from online commenters, many of whom echoed frustrations over limited parking access for hospital workers.
Responding to the public outcry in an official statement released Wednesday, the NWRHA confirmed the towing operation took place on the hospital’s compound, but pushed back on the narrative that the action was unprovoked. According to the authority, both towed vehicles were parked in clearly marked restricted zones, in direct violation of the organization’s formal Parking Policy implemented back in May 2022.
The first vehicle, which appears in the viral video, was parked illegally on the northern edge of the hospital campus, next to the Maternity Staff Car Park. At the time it was towed, the improperly parked car was blocking multiple other vehicles from exiting the lot, creating unnecessary traffic congestion and access issues. The second vehicle posed an even greater risk to hospital operations: it was parked directly in the Ambulance Bay at the hospital’s main entrance, a critical emergency access route that is required to stay clear 24/7 to support rapid patient care and emergency response.
The towing operation was carried out with formal assistance from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), as part of the NWRHA’s routine enforcement of parking rules. The authority declined to confirm whether either of the towed vehicles was registered to hospital staff, noting that parking regulations apply equally to all individuals on the campus, regardless of affiliation.
NWRHA officials emphasized that consistent traffic and parking management is non-negotiable for keeping hospital operations running smoothly. Unauthorized parking in restricted zones does not just cause minor inconvenience, they argued: it can block patient access, slow down emergency medical responses, and disrupt the entire delivery of critical healthcare services.
To help the public and staff avoid accidental violations, the NWRHA noted it has already installed clear signage throughout the hospital compound marking all restricted areas and no-parking zones. The TTPS has also supported the authority by assisting with the placement of additional signage where gaps were identified, and has partnered on routine enforcement efforts.
While the authority acknowledged that the Port of Spain General Hospital continues to face high demand for parking, it stressed that compliance with parking rules is a core requirement to protect the facility’s overall safety, accessibility and functional efficiency. The NWRHA confirmed that routine enforcement of the Parking Policy will continue moving forward, and urged all staff, patients and visitors to only use marked, designated parking areas to ensure the hospital can deliver uninterrupted, safe care to the community.