Parking boondoggle

Re: Hospital Parking Pains, Dec. 23. Egregious parking rates for frequent hospital visits are a significant cost added to that of transportation to and from the care facility. Part of this burden on caregivers could be mitigated by low- cost frequent visitor passes and by allowing parking costs to be claimed as a medical expense for income tax credit.

Donald Green, Calgary. Based on my experience at three major hospitals in Ontario ( Sunnybrook, Mississauga and Grand River), the government provides zero funds for the purchase of land, construction and financing of parking facilities or their continuing operation and maintenance. Donors to hospitals do not get very excited about their funds going to parking facilities. There is no other source of revenue other than user pay. This is in sharp contrast to our airports where the taxes and fees are often comparable to the cost of the flight and yet there are still significant fees for parking.

All three of the above named hospitals have discounted pricing systems for frequent users and their families, such as for cancer treatment, rehabilitation and dialysis. Your survey reveals some hospitals are clearly gouging patients and their families. The decision makers in those organizations might want to review their business practices, such as bench marking and ethical decision making, as well as reviewing their rates against their mission, vision and value statements. Dennis Egan, retired hospital chief executive officer, Waterloo, Ont.