The Northland DHB has defended its decision to start charging those who park at Whangarei Hospital, with a range of exemptions, in response to a complaint from a Kaitaia woman to the Northland Age last week.
She was equally unhappy with the plan to reserve one of the hospital's cafes for staff use at certain times of the day, saying the option left to the public would be less convenient and more expensive.
Chief executive Dr Nick Chamberlain said a good deal of thought had gone into both decisions, however, and both had been made for sound reasons.
The DHB had announced the introduction of parking charges approximately a year ago, Dr Chamberlain said. Charges were expected to take effect, 8am to 5pm weekdays, within the next six months, for staff and public alike, to ensure there were enough spaces to meet ever-increasing demand.
"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 renal patients who drive themselves to the hospital, patients with long-term repeat appointments (i.e. 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.
Genuine hardship would be assessed on a case by case basis
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. Outpatient speciality services included oncology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, cardiology, renal treatment, methadone, child and youth mental health and allied health clinics such as child obesity, dietician and talipes services.
Meanwhile the hospital's Vibe Cafe was a staff facility, which until recently had also been open to the public. Staff had asked that consideration be given to restricting it for their use for two hours each day, to allow them some "some private time" to eat their meal during their day at work.
The other cafe was situated on the ground floor, very close to the hospital's main entrance.
"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 added.