Sir, – I had heard about the parking fiasco at the James Cook University Hospital and set off in good time.

However, nothing prepared me for the stress as I tried to take my elderly mother to visit a relative.

I dropped my mother off in the reception area while I went to park. Cars were only able to enter the car parks as another car left. Worse, the backlog of cars waiting meant I could not even get back to where I had left my mother without driving on the wrong side of the road to overtake the queues.

We left without visiting.

Yes, I can go by bus, but my mother is 91. A taxi? Really, should this expense be necessary? So many people must be unable to afford it.

Why talk about centralising services at James Cook when visiting is so difficult?

L MARSAY Stokesley.