Austin Hospital: Nurses ask for less parking restrictions
Austin Hospital nurses are forced to choose between work and copping a fine every two hours due to parking restrictions, prompting calls for free permits to bring them in line with other Melbourne frontline health workers.
East
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Nurses are calling on Banyule Council to relax parking restrictions around the Austin Hospital, saying they are forced to leave their wards every two hours to avoid being hit with fines.
A nurse from the Heidelberg hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, questioned why the council hadn’t followed the example of City of Melbourne and Whitehorse Council, who both relaxed restrictions for frontline workers.
The nurse said spaces near the wards were all two-hour spots and nurses had to leave the ward every two hours to move their cars.
“Nurses are very overworked, under pressure and stress, and often unable to leave the wards to move their vehicles,” she said.
“Health professionals are working on the front line and may be the only source of income for their families, therefore any added financial strain is unreasonable.”
“My colleagues feel the same way.”
Banyule Mayor Alison Champion said the council wanted healthcare workers to park in hospital carparks, to ensure parking was available for community members.
Parking at Austin Hospital can be up to $30 a day.
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Whitehorse Council issued parking permits to a number of hospital and essential services, allowing staff to park on street all day near hospital networks.
In the City of Melbourne, frontline staff were given access to free temporary permits to ensure they could park close to work.