NSW government announces free parking for NSW regional hospitals
The state government has revealed patients and visitors can soon park for free at regional health facilities, including the new $723 million Tweed hospital.
Regional News
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The NSW government has revealed patients and visitors will be able to access free parking at regional hospitals and health facilities across the state from next month.
Free parking was already available for staff at regional state hospitals and that scheme will expand from August 1.
Health Minister Ryan Park is visiting the site of the new Tweed Valley Hospital on Wednesday morning to speak about free parking alongside Richmond MP Justine Elliot and Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes.
There has long been speculation about whether parking would be free at the $723 million Cudgen hospital in the Tweed Shire, and debate over whether visitors and patients should be forced to pay at hospitals like Lismore Base.
Mr Park said: “As part of our election commitment, free parking has now been extended to regional hospitals, including here at the Tweed, Coffs Harbour, Lismore, Maitland, Belmont and Shoalhaven.”
“The NSW Government has fulfilled its promise to communities across regional NSW on this issue.”
Both Labor and the ousted Coalition pitched free regional hospital parking in the lead up to the state election this year
Mr Park said Tweed residents “have been vocal about the need for free parking”.
“We don’t want a situation where people are having challenges receiving healthcare in a time of a natural disaster,” he said.
Mr Park said the government was looking at improving overall “conditions for men and women delivering our frontline services”.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said she has been longstanding advocate for free parking at health facilities.
“I’ve been determined to deliver on this for my community in Lismore and I am really pleased that it will not just be delivered for my community, but at hospitals and health facilities across regional NSW,” she said.
“With the rollout of the free parking initiative across regional health facilities, we’re easing the financial burden on patients and visitors to our hospitals.
“The initiative is designed to make hospital access more seamless for regional, rural and remote communities who are faced with unique geographical challenges when accessing healthcare.”
Ms Elliot said: “We know trips to the hospital can be a challenging time for patients and their families, and this announcement will make a big difference to them.”
“In regional areas driving is often the only option to get home from the hospital for patients, staff and visitors,” she said.
Tweed MP Geoff Provest applauded the free parking at Tweed.
“I am absolutely delighted that the commitment of free parking at the new hospital has been secured. This is a huge win for our community,” he said.
“The Tweed will have an incredible new hospital, but we need to make sure we also invest in the elements that make the hospital work, including free parking.
“Working at or visiting a hospital can be incredibly stressful. Removing this extra cost will help staff, patients and visitors focus on treatment and care and not parking.
“Thousands of people will use the new Tweed Valley Hospital everyday when it is complete,” Mr Provest said.”
The much-anticipated and hotly debated new hospital is almost finished and due to open soon.
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