New Sturgeon Hospital Parking Bad For Patients/Visitors

30/08/2008 07:43
Don,

The parking lot expansion behind Sturgeon Community Hospital is now finished, but guess what? It is for public parking! Doesn’t sound bad does it?  But wait!  

The two lots closest, yes I said CLOSEST to the Emergency department that were for public parking are now closed to the public. Yup they are now staff only parking lots. 

Yes, the sick, the injured, the handicapped and any other member of the public that has business at the hospital must now park at the BACK of the hospital located at the farthest point from the Emergency Dept. I cannot believe this asinine idea. The sick, the injured, the handicapped and yes, any public visitor must now find their way from the public parking lot at the rear of the hospital.  

I wouldn’t want to try this if I was one of the sick or injured that do not arrive by ambulance.  If you arrive after 8:00 p.m., you must make your way from the back all the way around  outside of the hospital to the emergency doors just to get inside. 

If I was one of the sick, injured or handicapped I sure as hell wouldn’t want to attempt that trek at any time of day; let alone in the middle of the night or in the winter and -20 degrees.    My 77 year old mother who frequently stays later than the 8:00 p.m. curfew to comfort my 84 year old father with Alzheimer's now has to make her way through the hospital to the emergency doors to leave and then walk all the way back around the outside of hospital to the rear parking lot in the dark.  All the while looking at an almost empty staff parking lot (any time of day) much much closer to the emergency department and after hours public exit.  

This gross decision must be changed and changed immediately. By the way, Sturgeon Hospital is the only place in St. Albert that charges for parking.  What a gross way to treat the sick and injured and their visitors.

If this is any indication of the “New Capital Health Board”  I think we are in big trouble
 
Bill Kimball
St. Albert

SINC SAYS:

Sounds to me like the planners of the new facilities didn't put much thought into this Bill. Priority should be given to the sick and those who visit them.