REGINA - While the SaskParty have boasted lately about a new parkade coming for Regina General Hospital, the Opposition NDP has been blasting the government over parking fees in the existing lot.
During Question Period on Thursday, Regina Douglas Park MLA Nicole Sarauer hammered the government over a recent move to eliminate free parking at Regina emergency rooms, at both Regina General and also Pasqua Hospital in the city.
“Look no further than the Regina General Hospital in my constituency,” said Sarauer as recorded in Hansard. “Parking at the ER used to be free, but now people have to pay. How does this tired and out-of-touch government justify nickel-and-diming ER patients when they’re wasting so much public money on their own mismanaged projects?”
In response, Minister of Health Everett Hindley acknowledged “there were some changes made last month I understand by the SHA. It’s my understanding that this aligns the parking practices at the Regina emergency departments with that of all three hospitals in Saskatoon, Mr. Speaker.”
He also pointed to the new parkade project going up for Regina General Hospital, but that answer didn’t satisfy the NDP.
“Mr. Speaker, how does that answer help people who are trying to go to the ER today?” Sarauer said.
“When someone pulls up to the ER in an emergency, there’s no time to waste. It’s an emergency and they need to get in to see a doctor immediately. Sick or injured patients don’t have time to fumble with change or an app on their phone. They should be able to focus on getting in and getting the health care that they need. Why is the Sask Party forcing patients to pay out of pocket while the costs of their own waste and mismanagement keep piling up?”
In response, Hindley noted that when patients or family members are visiting the emergency department parking services, “the paid parking in the quick-access stalls is only, will be enforced for those that exceed 60 minutes.”
Hindley went on to say of the NDP that “they don’t want to talk about the real issues of the day around some of the positive investments that are happening in Saskatchewan. I guess, Mr. Speaker, I guess they’re opposed to the new parkade for the city of Regina, expanding more access for patients and families in this province.
“You know part of the reason, Mr. Speaker, that we actually are building this parkade… We had a lot of parking over on the east side of Regina many, many years ago. What was the name of that hospital again? The Plains hospital. Plenty of parking for the staff and the patients at the Plains hospital until the NDP decided to show up and put the locks on the doors, Mr. Speaker.”
But Hindley changed his tune somewhat in speaking to reporters afterwards, as he acknowledged “we don’t want to see this where is a burden for patients and their families at emergency departments.”
He said he would be talking to the Saskatchewan Health Authority to ask for a bit more information and find out the reasoning for the move to charge parking fees.
“My understanding is they were doing this in Saskatoon, I don’t know for how long, but it’s the policy at the hospitals in Saskatoon. But I will be discussing it with the SHA with respect to the decision that was made in Regina and the policy overall itself.”
In speaking to reporters Opposition Health Critic Vicki Mowat made known her outrage over the decision to impose parking fees for emergencies, and refused to absolve Minister Hindley for the move by the SHA.
“The Minister can’t pretend like he doesn’t have a role in whether patients pay for parking when they go to an emergency room,” said Mowat. “
For him to imply that he does not have a role here or the ability to change this is completely unacceptable. He’s the Minister of Health. Should patients have to pay when they go to an emergency room? No. They’re in an emergency situation. They shouldn’t have to get out their credit card or download an app when someone’s having an emergency in their family. They shouldn’t come back after being in an emergency room with a parking ticket. You know, this is about access to patient care in about having access to healthcare in an emergency situation. Absolutely not.”
