Free hospital parking push

REFORM to ensure hospitals have free or concessional parking do not go far enough, says a prominent Gold Coast lawyer.

Yesterday, Minister for Health Cameron Dick announced $7.5 million would be used to subsidise 100,000 car parks at 12 Queensland public hospitals for four years.

His Car Parking Action Plan includes developing concession policies for paid parking, increasing the number of concessional spaces, ensuring the Government is involved with developing carparks and considering new parking options for Brisbane’s Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. Reforms include Gold Coast University and Robina Hospital.

But litigation director of Parker Simmonds Solicitors & Lawyers Bruce Simmonds said while the changes were welcomed, hospital parking should remain free. “Of course it’s going to help, but it should be free,” Mr Simmonds said.

“You should be able to go to reception and get your ticket validated as a justified excuse to be there.”

Mudgeeraba pensioner Russ Thompson, 69, said it was “absurd” to charge patients and their families for parking. When his mother was sick, Mr Thompson estimated he spent $400 in four weeks on parking.

“The easiest way to fix this is to give the public the first two hours free,” he said.

It is still unknown just how many of the 100,000 spaces will be allocated for Gold Coast University or Robina hospitals.

Eligible patients will be able to use the discounted car park spaces from October onwards.

Currently parking at Robina Hospital costs $2 an hour, up to a maximum daily cost of $5 and the privately owned Gold Coast University Hospital multistorey carpark charges a maximum of $16.50 per day.