HEALTH Minister Stephen Wade has yet to pledge funding to roll-out 60 new carpark spaces at Mount Gambier Hospital despite claims the issue was “out of control”.
While the carpark is “bursting at the seams”, Mr Wade would not be drawn into whether the State Government would fund the new carpark during his visit to the Blue Lake city this week.
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell and Shadow Health Minister Chris Picton have called for immediate action given growing frustration over the lack of spaces.
The issue appears to have reached flashpoint with some motorists ripping out timber post bollards in several sections of the hospital carpark.
It is understood the bollards have been removed not only in the public carparking areas, but where staff also park.
While Mount Gambier Hospital management have revealed a 60-space carpark blueprint is in the pipeline, it declined to reveal the estimated cost given the potential tender process.
Mr Picton – who toured the crammed carpark this week – called on Mr Wade to make a funding commitment.
“Clearly, the carpark is bursting at the seams and the problem is out of control,” Mr Picton told The Border Watch.
“According to people I have spoken with, it is fine if you arrive before 9am, but after 9.15am it is full – you cannot get a park.”
Mr Picton said many staff members were also parking on the streets surrounding the health facility, which raised potential safety concerns.
“We know safety is a massive issue across South Australia for nurses and hospital staff – they are at increasing risk of violence,” he said.
“If they are having to park on side streets it does put them at risk particularly when they are finishing late shifts.”
Given the expansive hospital grounds, Mr Picton called for both long-term and temporary solutions to address the problem.
“It seems ridiculous that people have to park streets and streets away when we have massive fields at the back of the hospital that just sit there empty,” the Labor frontbencher said.
“That could be a temporary solution.”
He also raised concerns “a whole lot” of hospital fleet cars were taking up spaces at the side of the hospital, which could be moved to open up new spaces.
“Clearly, this is an issue that has not been an issue overnight, it is an issue that has been building,” Mr Picton said.
“The hospital’s services have been getting bigger and bigger and we need to make sure people are able to come and see their loved ones and go to out-patient appointments they need.
“I think people are clearly frustrated, we do not want people to have to take measures into their own hands to get a carpark.”
He said it appeared hospital management was waiting for funding approval from the minister.
“The challenge for the minister is whether he will tick off these plans.”
During a visit to the hospital earlier this week, The Border Watch directly asked Mr Wade whether the government would fund the new carpark.
“Those things are normally done at the departmental level,” Mr Wade said.
“The renal unit was obviously an election campaign commitment, but we did not promise a carpark.
“We certainly appreciate the pressure of the car parking at both country and city hospitals.
“We are certainly investing in country health, committed $140m (to capital works) over 10 years. We are in the second year of that now.”
Mr Wade revealed the implementation of electronic medical records system was a major project recently rolled out at the Mount Gambier Hospital.
The hospital has also received funding for a theatre and aesthetic management systems, which means the sections will also be paperless.
Moreover, the facility had its internet bandwidth and wireless networks boosted.
Limestone Coast Local Health Network chief executive officer Ngaire Buchanan said plans had been “drawn up” for a 60-space carpark.
“We are looking at the funding for that at the moment,” Ms Buchanan said, explaining the hospital awaited a funding opportunity to come through this week.
Ms Buchanan said there was ample vacant space to build a 60-space carpark at the rear of the hospital.
“We have a lot of government cars at the side, which will move to the back so there is more parking for the community,” she said.
The health executive also flagged the network was also looking at increasing the size of the current carparks due to them being “quiet close together”.
She revealed the size of the carparks were reduced to fit more vehicles onto the site.
