An Aussie mum expressed outrage over an ‘unsafe’ hospital parking rule at Campbelltown Hospital.
A sign outlining the rule states: ‘No stopping. Vehicles setting down and picking up passengers excepted. Driver must remain with vehicle. (Fines apply)’.
However, Sydney mother Kathleen Mallia has highlighted a significant problem with the rule: Patients are prohibited from leaving the hospital without an escort, and hospital staff are unable to fulfill this role.
That means that anyone picking up a patient from the hospital could face a $92 fine for leaving their car unattended while assisting the patient.
An Aussie mum expressed outrage over an ‘unsafe’ hospital parking rule at Campbelltown Hospital
Mrs Mallia aimed to highlight the unfairness of the rule after her daughter faced the threat of a fine from a ‘intimidating’ parking inspector when she went to pick up her husband from the hospital.
‘To make our situation worse, on that day my hubby was unwell, it was raining and he couldn’t be left alone on a seat while the car was retrieved from the open air car park, so he had to walk to the car in the rain,’ she told Yahoo! News.
‘That in itself was very unsafe.
‘I get people abuse the pick-up area, but for those who genuinely need it, it’s not ideal. There just needs to be a better system and the higher ups at the hospital need to sort it out, because $92 is a lot if you don’t have it.’
Campbelltown Hospital (pictured) gives out $92 fines for people who get out of their car to help a patient from the allocated drop-off/pick-up spots
A spokesperson from Campbelltown Hospital told Daily Mail Australia that they need strict parking rules in the drop-off and pick-up zones.
‘Restricted parking is necessary in these drop-off/pick-up zones to allow for the high volume of vehicles and ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
‘As a result, fines may apply in these restricted parking zones.
‘We encourage anyone who has difficulty picking up a patient with frailty or mobility issues to speak to the ward’s nurse unit manager so arrangements can be made.’
Dr Anthony Brown, who works for Health Consumers NSW, told Yahoo that they’re getting complaints from people all over New South Wales about how hard and expensive it is to park at hospitals.
He explained that some people are dropping off their loved ones and then parking elsewhere to avoid getting fined.
Dr Brown said this situation can really affect a patient’s well-being, especially if their family members are stressed about parking costs or can’t be there with them because they can’t find a spot.