Hospital car park charges
COUNCILLORS were united in calling for free parking for cancer patients at Sligo University Hospital.
Councillors Marie Casserly, Declan Bree, Rosaleen O’Grady, Jerry Lundy and Gino O’Boyle all proposed motions calling on the Council to write to the management of the Sligo hospital to ask that efforts are made to ensure free car parking for cancer patients or a designated family member or carer during their treatment.
Cllr Casserly wrote to Hospital General Manager Grainne McCann and in reply was told that families should raise concerns with Ward Managers who in turn can raise the cost of parking with senior hospital managers.
A weekly ticket costs ¤ 15 as well as a daily charge of ¤ 6 or ¤ 3 for four hours.
Ms McCann said “There are opportunities for discretionary arrangements on a case by case basis.”
Councillor Casserly said this didn’t go far enough however. “Some hospitals around the country have free parking for cancer patients and I’m calling on Sligo Hospital to take their lead.
“I hope it will lead to a conversation that will lead to the ending of parking for patients who have a long- term use in the hospital, eg renal dialysis,” she said.
Cllr Bree described car parking charges on patients who attend regularly as “a tax on the sick.”
Cllr Lundy said the “they’re under enough stress, they should be abolished.”
Cllr Keith Henry said he would be raising the matter at the next Regional Health Forum meeting between Councillors and the HSE.
“We were advised that managers can use discretion yet I’ve been contacted by families who said that when they approached the Clinical Nurse Managers they didn’t even know they had that authority. If they’re issuing passes in Galway they can do it here,” he said.
The motions were passed unanimously.