Hospital car parking slammed as unfair as woman pays up to $200 a week
Jessica Jones was forced to dip into money saved for her honeymoon to visit her sick husband in hospital.
It was the only way she could cover his lost earnings and what she calls the "unfair" price of hospital car parking in Auckland, New Zealand.
The cost to park the car while she was at his side in Waitākere – a city west of Auckland – and Auckland City Hospitals was up to $200 a week, she said.
"It was just so upsetting, but I mean you had no choice but to just pay for it."
The fees were so high partly because she would sometimes visit him several times a day – but also due to a cost of up to $20.40 a time.
Hospitals say their fees are similar to parking at other Auckland hospitals.
Gareth and Jessica Jones got married in April 2018, but due to his heart condition saw their savings dwindle and their dream of a honeymoon fade.
"I just think it's ludicrous, it's really upsetting," she said of the cost of parking.
"The prices that they charge for people who are obviously visiting sick relatives. It's a really rough time."
Jones said her husband had used all his sick leave from work after being in hospital on and off since October.
This made it harder to deal with the high cost of car parking.
Jones said she asked about a parking subsidy from Auckland City Hospital but was refused on the grounds that she could catch public transport.
She said she understood it was an option for her but the cost of public transport was similar to the cost of car parking.
"I don't understand how elderly people do it, and people with very low income. It's really sad and just really unfair."
Waitākere Grey Power president Mate Marinovich said he often fielded complaints about parking costs at the hospital.
"To go in and visit the sick, and after two hours having to pay $8 to $12, that's really impacting upon everyone."
Marinovich said for those living on superannuation, or a low income, paying for parking on a daily basis adds up quickly.
Seven days of a full-day visit at Waitematā hospitals would cost $142.80.
He said people often had to forgo something else so they could afford to visit the sick.
An Auckland District Health Board spokesperson said the fees at Auckland City Hospital was similar to fees at many central Auckland public car parks.
"When travelling to our hospitals, we encourage our patients and whānau to look at other transport options."
She said the DHB understood parking could be difficult for patients and loved ones who experienced financial pressure. If they were staying for an extended period, the hospital may be able to help financially, she said.
Middlemore Hospital spokesperson Mere Martin said its pricing was also comparable to other hospitals and high-demand locations around Auckland.
"We have procedures in place to subsidise parking for visitors based on assessed financial need and length of stay."
A Waitemata District Health Board spokesperson said they recognise the cost of hospital parking can be a challenge for some people.
She said it was necessary to ask the public to pay for parking to pay for and maintain the existing facilities.
"We strive to do this in a fair and balanced way that minimises financial impacts."
PARKING COSTS (AUD)
Waitematā District Health Board - North Shore and Waitākere hospitals
0-20 minutes - Free
20 minutes - 1 hour - $3.60
1 hour - 2 hours - $7.40
2 hours -3 hours - $11.00
3 hours - 4 hours - $14.90
Over 4 hours - $18.50
Lost ticket - $18.50
Maximum daily charge - $18.50
Counties Manukau Health - Manukau SuperClinic, Middlemore hospital, Pukekohe Hospital, Botany SuperClinic
0 - 15 minutes - No charge
15 minutes - 1 hour - $3.60
1 hour - 2 hours - $7.40
2 hours - 3 hours - $11.00
3 hours - 4 hours - $14.90
4 hours plus - $18.50
Lost ticket $36.99
Between the hours of 2 pm - 8 pm - 30 minutes free parking
Auckland District Health Board - Auckland City Hospital, Greenlane Clinical Centre
0 - 15 minutes - Free
15 - 30 minutes - $2.70
30 minutes - 1 hour - $3.60
1 hour - 2 hours - $5.40
2 hours - 3 hours - $7.30
3 hours - 4 hours - $8.20
4 hours - 5 hours - $9.10
5 hours - 6 hours - $10.90
6 hours - 7 hours - $13.60
7 hours - 8 hours - $16.30
Lost ticket - $18.10
Written by Hannah Ross. Republished with permission of Stuff.co.nz.