Parking changes risk the safety of North Adelaide nurses

The removal of 10-hour parking spaces near several North Adelaide hospitals will put nurses’ safety at risk according the state’s peak nursing body.

The state’s peak nursing body has raised “significant concerns” about soon-to-be implemented parking control across North Adelaide, saying it will put nurses’ safety at risk.

As of July 1, Adelaide City Council will replace 10-hour parking spaces around several hospitals and instead enforce two, three or four-hour time limits.

About a half of unrestricted parking bays in the area will also become timed.

Overall, the changes will affect around 850 car spaces.

Medical staff – who work at hospitals, including Calvary, The Memorial and Mary Potter Hospice – would have to park far away, then walk through streets in the dark for work.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA branch chief executive Elizabeth Dabars said the changes posed a safety risk, particularly for those working in the early morning or at night.

“This is, of course, a significant concern and we know nurses and midwives experience significant difficulties in parking,” she said.

“We will be having urgent conversations with hospitals to ensure that nurses and midwives have a safe means of parking and getting to and from their car.

“And we will also be making contact with the council about the implications on staff.”

She said staff would be inconvenienced by having to move their cars to avoid fines.

In December 2017, North Adelaide rapist Patrick Mark Perkins was sentenced to 12 years’ jail, with at least eight years’ non-parole, for raping one woman and assaulting another, intending to rape her.

At the time of his sentencing, Judge Julie McIntyre said Perkins had subjected one of his victims to “violence of the most degrading nature”.

A spokeswoman for Calvary said the hospital received a letter from the council last week about the upcoming changes.

Medical staff – who work at hospitals, including Calvary, The Memorial and Mary Potter Hospice – would have to park far away, then walk through streets in the dark for work.

“Calvary received notification Friday, June 7, extensive consultation had taken place, however Calvary was not approached to participate,” she said.

“Our staff have since been in touch to express their concerns and we are in the process of making contact with council to discuss the impacts and how we can work with council to address our concerns.”

Ruth, whose daughter works at Calvary Hospital, has contacted Adelaide City Council a number of times raising concerns about nurse safety.

“I know my daughter has to sometimes start at 6am … and it is dark and pitch-black – it is a long way to walk,” Ruth, who did not want to disclose her surname, said.

“The changes have been poorly thought out.”

Women’s and Children’s Health Network corporate services executive director Phil Robinson sent a letter to staff on Tuesday advising them of changes.

The changes were made following a council review of on-street parking to find a “greater balance of on-street parking for the local community”.

The roll-out of parking control changes would be completed by late 2019.

The associate director of Adelaide City Council’s customer division, Vanessa Godden, said the community had been consulted extensively since December 2016.

“If anyone feels unsafe walking to their car late at night, wherever possible, we would encourage them to walk with a colleague or raise their concern with their employer,” Ms Godden said.