Gosford Hospital staff can now park in the hospital’s public car parks for free, as the NSW Government works to ease the burden on frontline workers during the pandemic.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government is doing everything it can to reduce the stress on health staff who are working around the clock.
“Our healthcare workers are on the frontline of our battle with COVID-19 and we need to do whatever we can to support them during this difficult time,” Berejiklian said.
“We hope this new measure makes life a little easier for our doctors, nurses and other hospital staff who are working hard to keep us all safe,” she added.
Staff parking at and around Gosford Hospital has been a contentious issue among staff for years and came to an ugly head in the final phase of the hospital’s redevelopment in 2019, when it was revealed that onsite parking rates for staff were to rise by almost $10.
That announcement came after staff spent months scrambling to find parking near the hospital when traditional on street parking was restricted by construction, and saw a handful of rallies take place protesting what the Health Service Union labelled a “blatant cash grab” by the Central Coast Local Health District against its own workforce.
The CCLHD maintains that the pricing was in accord with regulatory guidelines at the time.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the CCLHD confirmed Gosford Hospital staff were welcome to utilise the hospital carparks at no charge.
“The free parking will be available to cleaners, administration and security staff as well as medical staff, doctors and nurses,” the spokesperson said.
NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard, said the new parking measures came into effect on April 10.
Health Services Union Secretary, Gerard Hayes, said these changes will go a long way to ensure all NSW health workers are well supported during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a stressful time for our hospital staff, who are doing vital work to keep the community safe and these measures announced by the NSW Government will ensure they are supported during this health crisis,” Hayes said.
Source:
Press release, Apr 10
Office of Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Premier
Media statement, Apr 16
Central Coast Health
Reporter: Dilon Luke