Queen Elizabeth Hospital to lose hundreds of spaces as we reveal Adelaide’s cheapest and most expensive hospitals for parking

With the QEH to lose hundreds of car parks in its $314m redevelopment, we’ve crunched the numbers to compare prices at our major hospitals. Here’s what you’ll pay and how to get discounts.

Mrs Alexandra Vakitsidis, 70, believes parking at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital should be free. Picture Dean Martin

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital will lose about one-third of its public carparking spaces from midnight Sunday, including its free two-hour parks leaving vistors facing a minimum $3 fee.

Building work as part of the $314m redevelopment will see a 216-space open air car park closed permanently leaving the hospital with 500 public car park spaces.

A bulletin to staff says the northern open air car park will close on midnight on Sunday to allow construction of the new clinical services building.

SA Health says: “In December 2019 a new multi-deck car park opened, providing 500 parking spaces for patients, families and visitors across five levels, including more than 70 accessible spaces for people with disabilities.”

The closure highlights some disparities in parking facilities — and cost — among hospitals.

While visitors can enjoy two hours free parking at Lyell McEwin, Modbury, and Noarlunga, Flinders Medical Centre charges $3 for the first hour and the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Women’s and Children’s Hospital charge $5 for the first hour.

Day rates vary — the QEH, Noarlunga, FMC, Lyell McEwin and Modbury charge $16 for a day ticket while at WCH it is $17 and at RAH a day’s stay costs $30.

HIP POCKET NERVE - WHAT IT COSTS TO PARK AT ADELAIDE HOSPITALS

Northern area flagship hospital Lyell McEwin easily has the most car parks with 1432 partly thanks to a new multi-story facility which opened last year.

The $2.4bn RAH has the least car parks of the three major hospitals with 617, while FMC has 761.

The WCH has 727 spots — and the cheapest weekly discounted ticket at $39 compared to the standard $46 at other hospitals — and there are plans for 1200 parks at the new WCH.

Among other hospitals, the QEH will be left with 500 car parks from March 15, Modbury has 372 while Noarlunga has 265.

Mrs Alexandra Vakitsidis, 70, of Alberton, was shocked at the cost of parking when she took an elderly couple to the QEH this week.

“The government should not charge any fees for parking at hospitals, particularly for older people who may be on the pension and who are sick or worried about visiting sick relatives,” she said.

“If you are going to the casino or a restaurant or socialising, you might have to pay for parking, but you should not have to pay when going to hospital.

“We paid taxes all our life, hospital parking should be free.”

A SA Health statement says people needing to attend hospital for frequent clinical reasons can apply for a carparking fee exemption.

“A number of carparking fee exemptions exist for various patients, volunteers and hospital visitors, subject to the approval of the health facility manager,” it states.

“This includes some hospital sites offering the first two hours free in their open air car parks and discounted weekly tickets for regular visitors.”

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton noted the Liberals went to the election vowing to cut parking costs claiming the public were being “fleeced” by fees.

“Steven Marshall promised he would reduce the cost of carparking – and he’s done the exact opposite – increasing costs by up to 25 per cent,” he said

“The Liberals have hit SA with $33.5 million in higher parking costs at public hospitals.

“This government is making it even harder to visit a loved one in hospital or get to an appointment – at the same time we have the highest unemployment in the country.

“This is a kick in the guts to South Australians patients and families already suffering. The Marshall Government needs to get its priorities straight and immediately reverse these cruel fee hikes.

“This impacts patients with cancer, patients awaiting appointments – and family members seeing sick and dying loved ones.”