Free parking for cancer patients would be a ‘ kind gesture’ - Henry

THE HSE is to contact management at Sligo University Hospital to discuss the possibility of introducing fre parking for cancer patients.

This comes following last week’s meeting of the HSE Health forum in Galway, during which Councillor Keith Henry raised the issue.

“Councillors were recently contacted by the Irish Cancer Society to address the cost of parking at Sligo University Hospital for cancer patients or a designated carer. As a member of the health forum I felt that I should raise the matter there” Cllr Henry said.

“Individual hospitals can act unilaterally and introduce the free parking for cancer patients that operates so well at a minority of hospitals such as Wexford General Hospital, Mayo General, and St. Luke’s, Rathgar. The HSE have contracted the management of the carpark in Sligo out to a private company so there is no reason why they cannot give passes for the duration of their treatment” he added.

Cllr Henry said “I don’t believe these passes would be abused as I’m sure the patients or designated carers would sooner not be attending the hospital at all. It would be a kind gesture to patients who require to be at the hospital maybe several time during the week for appointment and help alleviate with financial costs”.

In response to his motion Councillor Henry was told that Clinical Nurse Managers have the authority to issue parking passes to patients as they see fit.

The HSE are to contact the Hospital Management on foot of this motion to see how these passes and other measures could be implemented.

Cllr. Marie Casserly had also previously urged Sligo University Hospital to offer free parking to anyone undergoing cancer treatment.