South Australians will pay $20m to park at public hospitals this financial year, $2m higher than the previous period

South Australians are on track to pay just over $20 million to park at the state’s public hospitals in this financial year.

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The state’s public hospitals are set to rake in a whopping $20 million in parking revenue this financial year, new figures show.

It’s a $2 million profit lift on the previous 12-month period and has fuelled calls for the Government not to increase fees, with an SA nursing body describing the parking costs as a “sad state of affairs.”

Figures provided by SA Health show the Government banked $10.05 million in carparking revenue at metropolitan hospitals in the six months to December last year, putting it on track to receive $20.1 million for the 2018-19 financial year.

An SA Health spokeswoman said the increase in revenue, up from $17.97 million in 2017-18 and $14.08 million in 16-17 was due to an increase in available carparking.

Roughly 50 per cent of the revenue comes from SA Health staff members, with patients and their families making up the rest.

The Royal Adelaide Hospital on North Terrace. Picture: Matt Loxton

The Central Adelaide Local Health Network hospitals, including the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, are on track to make $10 million in revenue.

The spokeswoman said there had been no increase in carpark costs at metropolitan hospitals since 2011, except for one rise at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The Women's and Children's Hospital in North Adelaide. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Parking is free at all country hospitals.

SA Council of Social Services chief executive Ross Womersley said it was disappointing South Australians paid so much to access services at local hospitals.

He implored Treasurer Rob Lucas not to increase the costs further.

“Lots of these hospitals are extremely hard to get to, leaving patients with no alternative to driving their car and paying for parking,” Mr Womersley said.

“The cost is particularly felt by regular visitors. I know SA health offers discounted weekly tickets but I suspect the majority of people don’t because it relies on people knowing how to navigate the system or being told by someone.”

SACOSS chief executive Ross Womersley said many patients had no alternative besides driving and parking.

Assoc Professor Elizabeth Dabars urged Mr Lucas not to increase parking costs. Picture: AAP / Mark Brake

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation secretary Elizabeth Dabars said the public hospital system was built around being easily accessible to the public. She also urged Mr Lucas to not further increase parking costs.

“If you’re limiting that access by increasing parking fees that’s a sad state of affairs for people using hospital services, families visiting them and the hardworking and dedicated health professionals caring for them,” she said.

The SA Health spokeswoman said the RAH offers 1000 more car parks than the old hospital, and additional car parks were available due to upgrades at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre.

“Money raised from carparking fees supports operational activities, such as car park maintenance and upgrades, with all additional revenue raised from parking charges reinvested to provide health services,” the spokeswoman said.