Parking at hospitals should remain free

Re: “Hospital parking fees return in March after two-year suspension,” Jan. 21.

One wonders how it was determined that non-users of hospitals in B.C. are generally unfairly taking advantage of their free parking, when most are not located in areas that otherwise have high parking demands.

The Saanich Peninsula Hospital, for instance, isn’t near Saanichton’s town centre or any facilities requiring additional parking. It is not on any public transit routes, and so personal vehicle or taxi are unfortunately the only ways to practically access it.

Victoria General Hospital and many others around the province are similarly situated in areas that do not have any other major parking demands, and so who would realistically use their parking lots unless they have hospital needs?

Having to pay for parking at a hospital is dismaying and annoying. A 15-minute appointment can take two hours or more. When one goes to Emergency it is impossible to know how long it will take, or if the patient will be admitted.

When one leaves to top up the meter, that is when the long-awaited visit from the doctor might happen. I know of a critically ill patient who sadly passed away when the family was topping up the parking meter.

Let’s have a more pragmatic and empathetic approach to pay parking at hospitals, and only charge at those facilities where it is necessary to maintain reasonable availability for those who require it.

This decision deserves a re-visit, and hopefully a model closer to what we currently have will be considered a better solution.

Danny Foster Saanich