Calls to delay introduction of paid parking at hospital

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Paid parking at Campbelltown Hospital is scheduled to be introduced in 2020.

But with so many people hurting financially due to Covid-19, there’s a push to delay the start of paid parking.

Campbelltown MP Greg Warren and opposition health spokesman Ryan Park, pictured above, are calling on the Berejiklian Government to ensure paid parking at Campbelltown Hospital is not introduced for at least six months.

NSW Labor is also calling for parking at all hospitals around the state to be free for at least the next six months due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Closer to home, patients, their loved ones and staff are expected to be forced to pay to park in the new complex in the north eastern corner of the Campbelltown Hospital site at some point this year.

Sources close to the Liberal Party say paid parking at Campbelltown Hospital is scheduled to begin on July 1.

They told the South West Voice the new high rise car park will be available for hospital staff only, who will be charged $25 a week.

Pensioners, cancer and other patients will have access to discounted daily rates, while volunteers who work at the hospital will get free parking.

“I want to reiterate that I don’t believe paid parking should be ever introduced at Campbelltown Hospital,” says Greg Warren.

“The escalating threat of Covid-19 will undoubtedly place more pressure on our local hospital.

“Given the mass job losses that have occurred already as a result of the virus, paid parking at hospitals like Campbelltown is an unnecessary financial imposition that must be avoided.

“I implore the government to guarantee that paid parking will not be introduced at Campbelltown Hospital for at least six months.”

Mr Park added: “This is a difficult and unprecedented time and we need to be doing everything we can to ease that pressure on the family budget.

“Now is not the time to be making money off people who are dealing with a health crisis.

“We know people are facing unemployment and financial stress so let’s do what we can to ease that burden.

“Removing these fees may not mean that much to the government but it sure will mean a lot to those during this pandemic.”

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