BEING ill and having to attend hospital on multiple occasions or needing to visit or stay with a loved one in hospital are stressful enough times without the extra worry of having to pay hundreds of dollars a week in parking fees.
That used to be the scenario for thousands of people in NSW attending or visiting public hospitals -but not anymore.
Patients and carers can now access concession rates for public hospital parking bringing a three-day discounted ticket down to a maximum of $10.90 and a seven-day ticket to $21.70, and both allow multiple entries and exits.
Those eligible for discounted public hospital car parking include:
- patients and carers attending hospital for an ongoing course of treatment
- patients and carers attending more than twice a week
- holders of a Roads and Maritime Service -issued mobility parking scheme permit, pensioner concession card, gold veterans affairs card or health care card
- ongoing cancer treatment patients
- cardiac rehabilitation and health promotion class attendees.
The move by the NSW government follows an online petition by a Sydney teenager and cuts the cost of car parking at public hospitals by about $200 a week.
Gidon Goodman, 14, has a rare blood disorder and has to go to hospital for regular medical infusions. He started the petition because he was worried family members would not be able to visit sick relatives because of the cost of hospital parking.
The petition attracted more than 70,000 signatures.
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard said the changes mean much cheaper and fairer parking fees - especially for patients visiting a hospital for regular or long-term treatment.
"We have worked with private car park operators to get rates down to a maximum of $5.40 a day, giving patients and families real savings when they need it most," Mr Hazzard said.
A website and smartphone app have been developed to provide information on fees and concessions, eligibility criteria, maps, public transport options and other health-related subsidies.
