Eastern Health is advising the public of planned upgrades to the parking lots at the Health Sciences Centre.
According to a news release, work will begin in August on the public parking lots in preparation for the removal of most of the parking meters and the installation of an automated pay-on-foot parking system in the fall.
The automated pay-on-foot parking system will consist of an automated arm and a payment kiosk system. It will eliminate the need to regularly feed meters, allowing patients and visitors an uninterrupted visit to the hospitals and the Cancer Centre. The system will allow users to pay by a variety of methods and the new system will also eliminate the issuing of tickets for expired meters.
"We are pleased to move forward with our plans to improve the parking situation at our largest facilities site," said Vickie Kaminski, President and CEO of Eastern Health. "The goal is to offer better access to parking along with a payment system that is less intrusive on patients, clients and family members who visit the General Hospital, the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre and the Janeway Hospital."
The changes are also designed to improve traffic flow and in the absence of meters, snow removal will be less costly, more efficient and allow for safer pedestrian movement on the parking lots.
"After extensive examination of the parking lots and a number of parking options, we determined that installation of the automated arm and payment kiosk system is the best means of meeting the parking challenges at the Health Sciences Centre," said Keith Bowden, Eastern Health's Director of Infrastructure Support.
"The changes are also in direct response to concerns that have been voiced by our patients, families and members of the general public regarding the inconvenience of the meter system. We recognize there will be disruption during the coming months and we ask the public for their understanding and cooperation while these improvements are being implemented."
Eastern Health implements changes to parking system at Health Sciences Centre
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Published on
June 24, 2010
- Published on July 1, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- Brian
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:05:33
Its not about improving the service, thats what they want you to think. The meter maids will disappear and maybe 2 jobs in the kiosk. Its all about the money!!! They will still get paid for parking
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- kma
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:11
FINALLY ! Long overdue. I've been a nurse at the HSC for 15 years and it is wrong that families dealing with medical emergencies have to worry about getting a ticket at a parking meter. Or, families visiting critically ill or dying family members have to continually feed a meter.
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- hockeyfan9087
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:03:44
I agree with paying to park at the hospital... It's a small price to pay considering the outrageous health care prices in other places... What I don't agree with is having to pay now AFTER hours!
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- Calvin
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:00:39
Barb, the mall pays their own snow clearing and road maintenance. Downtown streets, though used for parking by customers of downtown shops, are the responsibility of the city of St. John's, and the maintenance costs for these parking spaces is payed for using parking meters. Nothing in life is free, and if we're gonna complain about what isnt free, parking is nowhere near the top of the list. Lets start with education, prescription drugs, ambulance services, public transportation..... all of which are nowhere near being free, but deserve it way more than parking at a healthcare facility.
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- prufock
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:57:58
Paula, I agree, but Facebook groups are useless. If we want to change this, we need to petition Eastern Health directly.
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- TJ
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:56:29
The problem with free parking is that University students would take advantage of it.
What we really need is more parking at the hospital. -
- san
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:56:10
So now I can't drive around looking for a meter with time left on it, figures.
Can you imagine the line up to get out of the parking lot now?? I assume it will the same as the airports system.
As if it isn't frustrating enough having someone sick or taking someone to the ER for a 6 or 7 hour wait. Now during business hours, well have to wait in line to get out of the parking lot. Here's an idea people, park your car at the mall, hop on the bus to the hospital.
And to have to pay for parking after hours, suppose in the middle of the night when you got to take your sick kid to the Janeway, no other cars on the lot, but you still got to pay. What exactly does that money go toward anyway? more parking spaces? more beds in the hospitals, snow clearing. Just wondering. -
- me
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:56:10
the way i see it is if you can buy a car you can pay to park it
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- Oliver
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:54:19
This is just another example of a greedy corporation run amok. Another one is the cost to obtain a television in hospital in which the leaflet says part of the profits go to the corporation.
Let's have some compassion for sick patients and not be constantly nickel and diming them to death while they are being warehoused. Where is free health care? -
- Newfie Guy
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:53:02
This also means that if they implement a thing where you pay for how long you plan to stay that if you leave early someone can't come and grab some free time on a meter. What a pity the hospital is losing out on a cpl of dollars here or there by people doing that.
Seriously, there is no need for any of this. Like Paula said, the parking should be free. I've had two children there and was constantly going back and forth feeding meters. Especially after the second one where I had to run back and forth to check and take care of my older child as my parents could only do so much sitting outside of their own jobs and things they might have had to do. In the run of three days, I'd say I spent about $30. Luckily I found a meter with a lot of time left like twice. So I had to spend $30 on meters that I could have spent on gifts for the new baby which is ridiculous.
Paying to park is ridiculous and if this isn't stopped soon we should start parking at the Avalon Mall and walking if we are able to do so. -
- Stanny
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:52:23
TO Paula and all the other Newfie freeloaders, get with it. Hectres and hectres of parking space cost money. Get a life and pay your way. You are so lucky to live here and have free med. services. Maybe you will get an increase in your welfare cheque to cover this item, like the hundreds of other stuff you get from the tax payer..
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- Barbara
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:51:43
I can't believe the need, to take money from those who probably can't even afford to go to hospital as it is. Why not put meters where people are spending anyway? You can go to the malls all day long and shop and not pay a cent, but you can't even go have blood work without paying through the nose, I think govt. just doesn't think ahead about where they are implementing these services. Shop all day, but pay to visit a sick relative . It is disgusting!
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- Kimberly
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:50:47
I agree free parking at hospitals! You don't pay to visit at funeral homes, or the dr's office, or the vet, or to go shopping etc.
It is just another money grab! -
- Calvin
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:50:19
Free parking for a facility like this would not actually be free. The parking fees pay for snow clearing and road maintenance. Without this form of revenue, the costs associated with snow clearing and maintenance will be part of provincial healthcare funding, which is payed through our taxes, which means higher taxes to accomodate these costs. Nice try though.
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- Brian
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:50:00
People must realize that there is nothing free in this world. There are expenses of having a parking lot and the people that use it should have to pay to maintain it. If you drive a car and park there pay the fee, do you expect taxpayers dollars to pay for you to park. The money must come from somewhere....how about we eliminate a few nurses so people can have free parking.... what would you prefer...
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- Denise
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:49:55
About time I say. For those who don't want to line up can't you get a permit to park at the HSC if the patient that you are visiting is long term there?
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- Paula
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:49:43
Why should we have to pay to park? We are being penalized for being sick or for visiting the sick.
This is crazy....Let's start a Facebook Group for Free Parking at all hospitals. -
- liz
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:49:36
worth noting that Scotland's government has removed all meters from health service parking areas.
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- Sea-Dog
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:48:54
some of the people brought in to this city to run health care would'nt be able to run a small circus.....heaven help us, vicky im watching you !
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- Dorothy
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:47:51
I was just referred to another Province for medical reasons at another hospital and parking cost $20 for anything over 2 1/2 hours. Two appointments cost me $40 in parking, quite a difference than our hospitals here in St. John's.
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- Darrell
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:47:42
Hey Newfie guy you say you spent $30 dollars on parking why didn't you just park in the $2.00 parking and you could have stayed there all day not very smart of you.
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- In Agreement
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:46:34
I totally agree with Paula, parking should be free at all hospitals.
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- MUN
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:45:25
Awesome, as a MUN student I can now park there instead of getting tickets on MUN campus, a very short walk. Now you may never get a spot to visit an ill patient since it will be full of students.
Are you guys putting a tunnel from there to teh UC. -
- Dave
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:45:09
You guys are lucky. In the us you pay high hospital bills and high parking.
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- MS
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:44:23
I totally agree with Paula - why should we have to pay to park at a hospital?? It's obvious that we are there because we HAVE to be, not because we WANT to be - who wants to be sick or visiting someone who is sick???
Let's start that petition to free parking at all hospitals. -
- jeff
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:44:02
go for it, MUN students will ensure you and your little facebook group will never get a spot anywhere closer than the mall ever again.
I think it is a fantastic idea. -
- anne
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:52
this also means that now EVERY vehicle willhave to pay - no more using the leftover minutes on meters left by others...i hope this 'windfall' (more income, alleged less expense) will be put to good use on the hospital ,which is in a reallyshabby condition, not line the pockets of the upper crust
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- Mary
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:29
A small price to pay for the health care we receive....... imagine if you lived in the US!!
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- Jerome
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:29
So going to the hospital now will be the same as going to the airport.
It will cost me as much to wait for a loved one to come out of surgery as it will for a friend who is returning from a southern vacation.
I guess business is business. -
- Jeremy
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:25
I think this is a great idea. I don't mind paying a fair price for parking. What I don't like is having to guess how much time I'm going to be in the Hospital.
A few weeks ago I took my infant to emergency at the Janeway and I had to guess how long I would be in Emergency. I couldn't leave her so I just plugged the full 8 hours on the meter rather than get a ticket. When we came out, I still had over 4 hours left. -
- Lori
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:09
If they didn't have pay parking at the HSC, everyone from MUN would be parking there, leaving no spots for patients and visitors. Like it or not, parking is a $$ generator; what would be sacrificed if they made it free?
IMO, this is great, providing that it doesn't mean that the hourly rates increase for parking. It's such a pain trying to find change for the meters. -
- Paul
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:01
Parking lots are not free. We cannot afford (as a society) to make things like this free. Besides, what happens in free parking lots at stores? You get imbicles who park in the fire lane because they are too lazy to walk. We are too spoiled as it is.
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- prufock
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:41:57
Calvin makes a good point, it would be gobbled up in taxes. However, to those saying university students would park there, is your imagination really that limited? You can't figure out a way around that?
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- About time
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:41:39
I agree with this change. Why it took so long for somebody o figure it out is beyond me but at least now I can park my vehicle and not worry about watching a clock in order to re-feed the meter.
To those wanting free parking, try to understand that parking lots and roadways must be maintained, I assume the money will go toward that.
The comments on this story prove that that you can't possibly please everybody. -
- Heather
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:39:56
A Newfoundlander I know is in the US on a workterm. She had an accident and required seven stitches which cost over $2000 - and she had to pay to park. Healthcare covers far more important services than free parking and televisions. And to Barbara from NL - government doesn't provide parking at malls, the owners of the mall do. Appreciate the fact that you don't have to pay to have bloodwork.
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- David
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:19
Hey Paula, if you don't want to pay, then don't go to the hospital! Or take a bus or taxi!
Everywhere else in Canada, you have to pay to park, even hospitals!! It does cost money to maintain parking lots and money doesn't grow on trees in NL either. -
- Brian
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:55:41
Its not about improving the service, thats what they want you to think. The meter maids will disappear and maybe 2 jobs in the kiosk. Its all about the money!!! They will still get paid for parking
-
- kma
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:53:17
FINALLY ! Long overdue. I've been a nurse at the HSC for 15 years and it is wrong that families dealing with medical emergencies have to worry about getting a ticket at a parking meter. Or, families visiting critically ill or dying family members have to continually feed a meter.
-
- hockeyfan9087
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:52:32
I agree with paying to park at the hospital... It's a small price to pay considering the outrageous health care prices in other places... What I don't agree with is having to pay now AFTER hours!
-
- Calvin
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:48:38
Barb, the mall pays their own snow clearing and road maintenance. Downtown streets, though used for parking by customers of downtown shops, are the responsibility of the city of St. John's, and the maintenance costs for these parking spaces is payed for using parking meters. Nothing in life is free, and if we're gonna complain about what isnt free, parking is nowhere near the top of the list. Lets start with education, prescription drugs, ambulance services, public transportation..... all of which are nowhere near being free, but deserve it way more than parking at a healthcare facility.
-
- prufock
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:45:47
Paula, I agree, but Facebook groups are useless. If we want to change this, we need to petition Eastern Health directly.
-
- TJ
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:43:26
The problem with free parking is that University students would take advantage of it.
What we really need is more parking at the hospital. -
- san
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:42:56
So now I can't drive around looking for a meter with time left on it, figures.
Can you imagine the line up to get out of the parking lot now?? I assume it will the same as the airports system.
As if it isn't frustrating enough having someone sick or taking someone to the ER for a 6 or 7 hour wait. Now during business hours, well have to wait in line to get out of the parking lot. Here's an idea people, park your car at the mall, hop on the bus to the hospital.
And to have to pay for parking after hours, suppose in the middle of the night when you got to take your sick kid to the Janeway, no other cars on the lot, but you still got to pay. What exactly does that money go toward anyway? more parking spaces? more beds in the hospitals, snow clearing. Just wondering. -
- me
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:42:56
the way i see it is if you can buy a car you can pay to park it
-
- Oliver
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:39:54
This is just another example of a greedy corporation run amok. Another one is the cost to obtain a television in hospital in which the leaflet says part of the profits go to the corporation.
Let's have some compassion for sick patients and not be constantly nickel and diming them to death while they are being warehoused. Where is free health care? -
- Newfie Guy
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:37:48
This also means that if they implement a thing where you pay for how long you plan to stay that if you leave early someone can't come and grab some free time on a meter. What a pity the hospital is losing out on a cpl of dollars here or there by people doing that.
Seriously, there is no need for any of this. Like Paula said, the parking should be free. I've had two children there and was constantly going back and forth feeding meters. Especially after the second one where I had to run back and forth to check and take care of my older child as my parents could only do so much sitting outside of their own jobs and things they might have had to do. In the run of three days, I'd say I spent about $30. Luckily I found a meter with a lot of time left like twice. So I had to spend $30 on meters that I could have spent on gifts for the new baby which is ridiculous.
Paying to park is ridiculous and if this isn't stopped soon we should start parking at the Avalon Mall and walking if we are able to do so. -
- Stanny
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:36:40
TO Paula and all the other Newfie freeloaders, get with it. Hectres and hectres of parking space cost money. Get a life and pay your way. You are so lucky to live here and have free med. services. Maybe you will get an increase in your welfare cheque to cover this item, like the hundreds of other stuff you get from the tax payer..
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- Barbara
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:35:32
I can't believe the need, to take money from those who probably can't even afford to go to hospital as it is. Why not put meters where people are spending anyway? You can go to the malls all day long and shop and not pay a cent, but you can't even go have blood work without paying through the nose, I think govt. just doesn't think ahead about where they are implementing these services. Shop all day, but pay to visit a sick relative . It is disgusting!
-
- Kimberly
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:33:47
I agree free parking at hospitals! You don't pay to visit at funeral homes, or the dr's office, or the vet, or to go shopping etc.
It is just another money grab! -
- Calvin
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:32:58
Free parking for a facility like this would not actually be free. The parking fees pay for snow clearing and road maintenance. Without this form of revenue, the costs associated with snow clearing and maintenance will be part of provincial healthcare funding, which is payed through our taxes, which means higher taxes to accomodate these costs. Nice try though.
-
- Brian
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:32:26
People must realize that there is nothing free in this world. There are expenses of having a parking lot and the people that use it should have to pay to maintain it. If you drive a car and park there pay the fee, do you expect taxpayers dollars to pay for you to park. The money must come from somewhere....how about we eliminate a few nurses so people can have free parking.... what would you prefer...
-
- Denise
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:32:18
About time I say. For those who don't want to line up can't you get a permit to park at the HSC if the patient that you are visiting is long term there?
-
- Paula
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:31:57
Why should we have to pay to park? We are being penalized for being sick or for visiting the sick.
This is crazy....Let's start a Facebook Group for Free Parking at all hospitals. -
- liz
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:31:44
worth noting that Scotland's government has removed all meters from health service parking areas.
-
- Sea-Dog
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:30:33
some of the people brought in to this city to run health care would'nt be able to run a small circus.....heaven help us, vicky im watching you !
-
- Dorothy
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:28:49
I was just referred to another Province for medical reasons at another hospital and parking cost $20 for anything over 2 1/2 hours. Two appointments cost me $40 in parking, quite a difference than our hospitals here in St. John's.
-
- Darrell
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:28:33
Hey Newfie guy you say you spent $30 dollars on parking why didn't you just park in the $2.00 parking and you could have stayed there all day not very smart of you.
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- In Agreement
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:26:36
I totally agree with Paula, parking should be free at all hospitals.
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- MUN
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:24:54
Awesome, as a MUN student I can now park there instead of getting tickets on MUN campus, a very short walk. Now you may never get a spot to visit an ill patient since it will be full of students.
Are you guys putting a tunnel from there to teh UC. -
- Dave
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:24:29
You guys are lucky. In the us you pay high hospital bills and high parking.
-
- MS
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:23:16
I totally agree with Paula - why should we have to pay to park at a hospital?? It's obvious that we are there because we HAVE to be, not because we WANT to be - who wants to be sick or visiting someone who is sick???
Let's start that petition to free parking at all hospitals. -
- jeff
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:22:39
go for it, MUN students will ensure you and your little facebook group will never get a spot anywhere closer than the mall ever again.
I think it is a fantastic idea. -
- anne
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:20:25
this also means that now EVERY vehicle willhave to pay - no more using the leftover minutes on meters left by others...i hope this 'windfall' (more income, alleged less expense) will be put to good use on the hospital ,which is in a reallyshabby condition, not line the pockets of the upper crust
-
- Jerome
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:19:46
So going to the hospital now will be the same as going to the airport.
It will cost me as much to wait for a loved one to come out of surgery as it will for a friend who is returning from a southern vacation.
I guess business is business. -
- Mary
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:19:45
A small price to pay for the health care we receive....... imagine if you lived in the US!!
-
- Jeremy
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:19:40
I think this is a great idea. I don't mind paying a fair price for parking. What I don't like is having to guess how much time I'm going to be in the Hospital.
A few weeks ago I took my infant to emergency at the Janeway and I had to guess how long I would be in Emergency. I couldn't leave her so I just plugged the full 8 hours on the meter rather than get a ticket. When we came out, I still had over 4 hours left. -
- Lori
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:19:12
If they didn't have pay parking at the HSC, everyone from MUN would be parking there, leaving no spots for patients and visitors. Like it or not, parking is a $$ generator; what would be sacrificed if they made it free?
IMO, this is great, providing that it doesn't mean that the hourly rates increase for parking. It's such a pain trying to find change for the meters. -
- Paul
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:18:59
Parking lots are not free. We cannot afford (as a society) to make things like this free. Besides, what happens in free parking lots at stores? You get imbicles who park in the fire lane because they are too lazy to walk. We are too spoiled as it is.
-
- prufock
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:18:52
Calvin makes a good point, it would be gobbled up in taxes. However, to those saying university students would park there, is your imagination really that limited? You can't figure out a way around that?
-
- About time
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:18:18
I agree with this change. Why it took so long for somebody o figure it out is beyond me but at least now I can park my vehicle and not worry about watching a clock in order to re-feed the meter.
To those wanting free parking, try to understand that parking lots and roadways must be maintained, I assume the money will go toward that.
The comments on this story prove that that you can't possibly please everybody. -
- Heather
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:15:33
A Newfoundlander I know is in the US on a workterm. She had an accident and required seven stitches which cost over $2000 - and she had to pay to park. Healthcare covers far more important services than free parking and televisions. And to Barbara from NL - government doesn't provide parking at malls, the owners of the mall do. Appreciate the fact that you don't have to pay to have bloodwork.
-
- David
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:05
Hey Paula, if you don't want to pay, then don't go to the hospital! Or take a bus or taxi!
Everywhere else in Canada, you have to pay to park, even hospitals!! It does cost money to maintain parking lots and money doesn't grow on trees in NL either.
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