Hospital parking fees bring big bucks
‘‘I don’t think we can underestimate how many people in our community cannot afford to spend $10-$20 a week on parking.’’ Karen Naylor, DHB board member
A nationwide petition opposing hospitals charging parking fees is attracting widespread support, as it’s revealed Palmerston North Hospital is set to make $450,000 from the practice.
The hospital will increase free parking from 30 to 40 minutes, after bringing in nearly halfa-million dollars in revenue each year.
The hospital says that money covers upkeep and funding for future works. It also says it gives away $229,000 a year in concessions.
However, that doesn’t wash with anti-charge campaigner Alex Dexter, who started a nationwide petition for ditching parking fees at hospitals.
So far it has attracted more than 8000 signatures.
The petition, called Change Paid Parking in New Zealand Hospitals, was launched on the Causes website.
Dexter says the petition will ‘‘make DHBS rethink the way they control parking’’.
Palmerston North Hospital isn’t the only one to charge – visitors to hospitals, including, Auckland City, Wellington and Hutt are also slapped with fees.
Midcentral DHB board member Karen Naylor was concerned about how much money the hospital pulled in from parking.
‘‘People don’t choose to be in hospital. They are there because they have to be there.
‘‘They should be able to have loved ones there to help their recovery.’’
She acknowledged it would be tough to lose that revenue, but said the hospital had still charged for parking when it had surpluses.
‘‘I don’t think we can underestimate how many people in our community cannot afford to spend $10-$20 a week on parking.’’
Naylor said the costs left some patients fed up.
Heather Williams said she attended appointments at the hospital almost weekly.
‘‘Generally, I would be there for around an hour and where possible I would avoid parking at the hospital as much as possible.’’
Williams said she was on a limited income and parking was an extra expense.
‘‘Often, I don’t have a spare few dollars.’’
She would park on the street rather than in the hospital.
‘‘Only if it was pouring with rain or I was running late would I go into the hospital car park.’’
Suzette Alderdice said she had been a regular user of the hospital’s car parks for the past four years.
‘‘I pay approximately $4 per visit. It doesn’t sound much, but it does mount up.’’
Alderdice said her appointments usually ran for at least an hour, making it well outside the free parking window.
Others were happy to pay for the convenience of a close park.
Alex Mcminn said before paid parking was introduced, it was ‘‘crazy’’ at the hospital.
‘‘It pushed visitors out further and you had to walk great distances or had to time your visits.’’
Now, he was able to get a park close by.
Midcentral has not responded to questions.