Queensland Government will no longer use private operators to build hospital car parks

AFTER admitting fees from commercial car park operators at Queensland hospitals were too expensive, Health Minister Steven Miles says the State Government will build future car parks itself in a bid to make it cheaper for patients and their families.

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HOSPITAL carparks will no longer be built by private operators following outcry over ­exorbitant parking fees for sick patients and visitors.

Health Minister Steven Miles yesterday acknowledged fees from commercial carpark operators were expensive and unfair on users and vowed that all future hospital carparks would be built by the State Government as part of plans to be announced soon.

“We can deliver carparks for better value for taxpayers and cheaper car-parking rates for patients,” he said.

At Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside, parking costs $4.40 for just 30 minutes and $20 for two hours.

Health Minister Steven Miles says the State Government will build all future hospital car parks under a plan to reduce expensive fees. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

Protesters gathered outside the hospital in Brisbane’s north yesterday to call on the Government to take over from ­current management in a bid to bring in fairer prices.

Patient Gary Mclean, 68, who has a heart condition, says he is forced to park in side-streets and walk to the hospital.

“It (hospital parking) is an extra burden because I’ve got to pay the medical fees and this and all the rest of it,” he said.

In July, the Palaszczuk Government announced it would subsidise 100,000 parking spaces at 12 hospitals for four years.

Then Health Minister Cameron Dick said public-private partnerships would continue to be used for multi-storey hospital carparks “where it can deliver a better outcome”.

But Dr Miles yesterday appeared to rule that out.