"We receive regular complaints from the public that they cannot find a park at the hospital, and we believe that implementing paid car parking across the campus will ensure that parks are available and will allow us to invest in improving car parking facilities," Dr Chamberlain said.
"It is important to note that a bus transport service is provided by the DHB from Kaitaia to Whangarei, which is a cost-effective way for people to attend their appointments."
There would be a range of exemptions to parking charges, however, including for renal patients who drive themselves to the hospital, patients with long-term repeat appointments (ie. oncology), blood donors, staff called from off-site in an emergency situation, emergency, courier and delivery vehicles, rural health shuttles, bicycles and motorcycles and registered volunteers.
Exemptions could also be granted for the parents of seriously ill children, immediate family members of long-stay patients (after a week's parking, one vehicle per patient, and patients receiving regular, on-going treatment.
Dr Chamberlain said a lot of work was being done to expand the DHB's telehealth service, which facilitated outpatient clinics between its hospitals via video conferencing, thereby reducing the need for people to travel to Whangarei.
Meanwhile, staff have asked that the hospital's basement Vibe cafe be restricted for their use for two hours a day, to allow them some "private time" to eat their meals.
The "upstairs" cafe was situated on the ground floor.
"We have initiated a three-month trial (February to April), during which we are receiving feedback and working with the upstairs cafe to ensure that there are adequate healthy, low-cost food choices on offer for visitors and whanau," Dr Chamberlain said.