Community concerns that paid parking could be introduced at Wyong Hospital are escalating with the matter currently “under review” by the State Government.
Federal MPs Gordon Reid (Robertson) and Emma McBride (Dobell) have urged the State Government to heed previous campaigns to keep the hospital free from parking fees.
Imposing fees would impact healthcare workers going to work and patients and visitors accessing healthcare at the hospital, they said.
“The lack of public transport options means parking at Wyong Hospital should remain free of charge,” McBride said.
“Having worked at Wyong Hospital for almost 10 years, I know the impact introducing paid parking would have on staff, patients and visitors.
“I have heard from locals who have expressed their deep concerns, which I share, about the impact on the community if paid parking is introduced at Wyong Hospital.”
Reid said the community has been loud and clear on the issue.
“The community has fought hard to ensure Wyong Hospital remains free from parking fees, and now the NSW Government wants to introduce (them),” he said.
“This plan will hurt those in our community who can least afford it and will worsen health outcomes on the Central Coast.
“I am calling on the NSW Government to … keep Wyong Hospital free from parking fees.”
Central Coast Local Health District’s only comment was that the matter is under review, while a spokesperson for Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said he had raised the community’s concerns about the need for free parking at Wyong Hospital with the Minister for Health.
The Labor Party went to the last election promising free parking at all regional hospitals.
Residents were outraged when the Government back-flipped in August, saying free parking to be introduced at the state’s regional and rural public hospitals would not apply at Gosford Hospital.
At the time, Harris said Gosford Hospital, along with John Hunter and Wollongong hospitals, would retain paid parking as they are “principal referral hospitals located in major centres”.
“Gosford Hospital is close to public transport and the CBD, providing alternative access to the hospital, something that is not as readily available in the rural and regional areas of Tweed, Coffs Harbour, Maitland, Belmont and Shoalhaven,” he said.
“The removal of paid parking at Gosford would risk creating capacity issues, making it harder for patients to access the healthcare they need.”
The Central Coast is listed on the NSW Department of Health website as one of the nine Local Health Districts in the state classed as regional.
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the Government could not be trusted on its word when it comes to free parking at regional hospitals.
“Minister Harris repeatedly (said) that free parking at Gosford Hospital would go ahead before the government backflipped and broke its promise,” Crouch said.
“Interestingly, our Federal Members and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association were very quiet when the government backflipped on free parking at Gosford Hospital but are now scrambling against State Labor to fight against paid parking at Wyong Hospital, which would not have happened under a State Liberal Government.
“The introduction of paid parking will cost Central Coast locals millions of dollars a year in a time where cost-of-living is still a major problem for families, and it simply reinforces this government’s lack of priority and focus for us on the Central Coast.”
Terry Collins