Pensioners ‘kept in the dark’ about cheap parking at Liverpool Hospital
Liverpool Hospital visitors are being gouged upwards of $20 a day to pay for parking to see sick loved ones. But did you know there are concession rates available, costing you as little as $5.20 a day?
Southwest
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Liverpool Hospital visitors are being gouged upwards of $20 a day to pay for parking to see sick loved ones.
Last year the hospital made almost $7 million on parking, more than double the previous year’s $3.330 million.
Health districts in Sydney’s west were the big winners, with Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District reporting $3.449 million and Western Sydney Local Health District making $6.145 million.
Sydney Local Health District was the only other to report a high revenue, with $5.104 million. South Eastern Local Health District was a little further behind with $2.009 million.
Trailing all of Sydney’s health districts was Northern Sydney which o reportedly made $188,000 in parking last year.
Do you think the parking rates are too high?
The money made on car parking, reported in the South Western Sydney Local Health District’s audited financial statements, has steadily risen since 2011’s total of $1.035 million.
The huge jump from 2014 to 2015 correlates with the district taking over management of the car parking facilities from a commercial operator in late 2014. The take over put an additional $3.6 million into the hospital’s kitty in just one year.
“Where commercial car parks exist, the revenue goes back to the commercial operator,” a NSW Health spokeswoman said.
“The difference in revenue reported reflects the fact that the figures come only from car parks managed by the respective districts.
“It is at the discretion of each local health district as to how they allocate the revenue from car parking in public hospitals.”
A Liverpool Hospital spokesman said car parking fees were used to service the costs of the hospital’s car parks and to support patient care.
There are 466 parking bays at Liverpool Hospital with 20,000 visitors a month coming through the entry gates.
Wilson Parking Australia looks after the operation and management of the hospital car park, but does not determine parking rates. The NSW Ministry of Health sets the rates.
While parking is accessible, the promotion of concessional parking for pensioners and regular visits for patients, is not common knowledge. Concessional parking turns a potential $20 daily ticket into a $5.20 day pass for pensioners and eligible persons.
“People can inquire about parking concessions through their treating staff member or directly through Wilson Parking,” a hospital spokeswoman said.
Wilson Parking chief executive Steve Evans said they would meet with Liverpool Hospital regarding advertising of concessional rates to the public.
PENSIONERS KEPT IN THE DARK
Julie Cosby is furious there’s no signage notifying pensioners of cheaper parking at Liverpool Hospital.
She said after many years of being treated at the hospital and visiting loved ones, she was told by a nurse about pensioner rate parking.
“Honestly, it’s immoral,” she said. “I’ve not met anyone (patients or family members) here who knew about the cheap rates.
“By the time it was mentioned to me, I had already spent hundreds of dollars. My problem isn’t with the staff or the hospital — they provide great care and the staff are wonderful.”
Instead of paying about $24 a day for a regular parking ticket, Mrs Cosby was able to buy a weekly pension parking ticket for $20.90.
The only catch is she has to get it validated at the hospital’s P2 parking lot by showing her pension card.
“When you’ve got an unwell loved one, parking is crucial,” Mrs Cosby said.
“You come and go so many times and the cost of parking is something you have to pay and you don’t really look at how much it costs.
“I’ve walked around every carpark at the hospital — all the signs tell you the terms and conditions. There’s not one thing on there that if you’re a pensioner, there is a concession.”
Mrs Cosby said it was cheaper to park at Balmain Hospital than Liverpool.
“For the last three years, I’ve spent six months in hospital for myself and family members,” she said.
“I only found out in November about the subsidised parking fees and it was only because I was complaining to a nurse about parking costs.”
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
● South Western Sydney Local Health District’s car parking income:
● 2011 it made $1.035m
● 2012 it made $2.512m
● 2013 it made $2.675m
● 2014 it made $3.330m
● 2015 it made $6.947m
● Concessional parking is available for pensioners. The first three hours are free, daily pass $5.20, three day pass $10.50 and a seven day pass is $20.90
● Who is eligible? Holders of a Roads and Maritime Services-issued disabled parking permit, holders of a blue pension card, gold veterans affairs card, maroon and yellow healthcare card, ongoing cancer patients, patients and carers attending more than twice a week
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