Parking at Maitland Hospital will be radically improved thanks to a multi-million dollar plan to increase the capacity of hospital car parks across the state.
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Work on a new car park at the hospital will begin on Monday to help ease parking pressures in the area and ensure patients and their carers have greater access to parking spaces at Maitland.
The NSW government is investing more than $100 million towards the construction and increased capacity at hospitals most in need.
And Maitland has made the list.
“We are building a 46-space car park within the hospital grounds near the Melbee cottage and it will be a designated, paid staff car park,” Health Minister Jillian Skinner said.
“Once built, the new car park will free up much needed space within the hospital’s main car park for the
public.”
Maitland MP Robyn Parker said the NSW government has been actively working to find a solution to parking issues at Maitland Hospital.
“We know there are parking pressures around Maitland Hospital and this is why we have been looking at ways to ease this pressure,” Ms Parker said.
“At the moment both staff and visitors use the main car park but staff will be encouraged to park in the new on-site car park when it is completed.
“Ultimately it will make more parking spaces available for visitors. We hope this work will make it easier for people trying to park at Maitland Hospital and help address some of the concern of residents living close to the hospital.”
Construction on the car park is expected to be finished by the end of September.
Mrs Skinner said nearly every patient survey identifies the lack of parking as a major issue.
“Since the election we have already opened new parking facilities at Wagga Wagga and Shoalhaven hospitals and we have committed funding for construction of car parks at Blacktown, Nepean, Liverpool, Wollongong and Maitland hospitals,” she said.
“We have also allocated funds for the initial planning for car parks at Westmead and Sutherland hospitals.”
Mrs Skinner said the car park projects will aim to relieve the pressures of inadequate parking or the need to park long distances from a hospital.
“When the gap in parking is filled, local health districts will have greater capacity to provide subsidised or free parking to priority groups,” she said.
“This may include patients with chronic illness who attend hospital for regular treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or renal-dialysis. Or permanent staff, especially those doing late night shifts.
