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9th March 2017
08:48am GMT
"Car parking charges represent a huge cost for many cancer patients, at a time of not just physical and psychological stress, but financial pressure. People undergoing treatment are facing real hardship in having to deal with additional costs and large drops in income, and high car parking charges only add to this. We proposed a set of guidelines for hospitals to the HSE, that, if put in place, would make a big difference to cancer patients. Some hospitals already give cancer patients car parking passes so we know it's possible. We want it rolled out across all hospitals treating cancer patients."Mr. Buggy also commented that those receiving treatment close to urban centres are facing the highest parking costs:
"This is a problem for cancer patients as many have to visit the eight designated cancer centres for individual cancer types in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Galway and Limerick. The average cost of parking at designated cancer hospitals is €8 for a four hour stay."There were significant variations in cost by region, with Dublin hospitals proving the most expensive. On average a four hour stay in a Dublin hospital cost €8.86. Hospitals in Munster had the second highest costs for a four hour stay at €6.70, while costs were lower in Connaught/Ulster at €4.67 and in Leinster (excluding Dublin) at €5.20, respectively. The Irish Cancer Society would like guidelines on the issue similar to those already in place in the UK:
"We are asking the HSE to issue guidelines to hospitals, like those that exist in the UK. Introducing free parking for patients undergoing cancer treatment will help ease the burden they face at a time of complex need and financial stress. Our proposals include guidelines around car parking at hospitals that will ensure all people undergoing treatment for cancer are treated fairly, and that will provide for greater transparency in the levying of charges and use of revenue raised."According to figures provided by the Society, at the 26 public hospitals that offer cancer treatment, the revenue raised by car parking in 2015 totalled almost €16 million, with two hospitals taking in in excess of €1 million, and another two hospitals taking in €1.5million and €2.9million respectively. Donal Buggy Commented:
"While we acknowledge that car parking is a key source of revenue for many hospitals, the excessive rates charged at some facilities place an unnecessary strain on cancer patients and their families."A four-hour stay in Tallaght Hospital costs patients €10. This is more than twice what shoppers will pay in the Square Shopping Centre, two minutes’ drive away, and rivals some of the most expensive car parks in Dublin’s city centre. To spend a day in the Mater Hospital costs just a euro less than it does to spend it in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, one of the priciest spots to park in the city. Gerry Carroll, a 56-year-old Acute Myeloid Leukaemia survivor from Dublin, spoke of the huge cost of car parking when he underwent treatment:
"I stayed in hospital for 115 days, as I was vulnerable to infection during my treatment. During that time, my wife came to visit me five days a week. It cost her almost €1,200 in parking charges alone in that time. That’s a lot of money. If she was able to get free parking, or even a reduced rate it would’ve been a great help to us."Earlier this month, the Irish Cancer Society contacted every hospital that provides cancer treatment in Ireland and sadly found no difference between the 2016 and 2017 rates.
Instead, during 2016, while cancer patients were struggling to pay crippling parking costs, the revenue raised from parking at all but four cancer hospitals increased. Last year, hospitals that offer cancer treatment raised almost €18.75 million in car parking fees, up over €4million on 2015.
Mr. Buggy says the hospitals just aren’t listening,"We are overwhelmed by the huge public reaction to our campaign to 'Park the Charges' for cancer patients. This demonstrates the breadth of support for free parking for people being treated for cancer, something that affects thousands of people every day. We want politicians and the HSE to acknowledge the financial impact of hospital parking on families and we need to see real action to address it."
Individual hospitals have the authority to abolish charges for cancer patients and a number of hospitals around the country including Mayo General, Portiuncula, Wexford General and St. Luke’s Rathgar, have arrangements in place that mean cancer patients go free.
While the Society is asking individual hospitals to get rid of parking charges for cancer patients going through treatment, they have emphasised the need for a national policy on car parking that treats patients with care and compassion. Currently, no uniform national policy on car parking exists. Mr. Buggy commented,"There is no national policy on car parking aside from agreement from hospitals on maximum daily fixed parking charge. This makes no difference to patients forking out €15, €20 or even €40 for a day long stay. The HSE now need to step up and put in place policy that supports cancer patients and their families at a time when they’re faced with a multitude of other charges."The Irish Cancer Society currently runs a volunteer driver service that provides transport for cancer patients to and from their hospital chemotherapy treatments, which currently operates at 21 different hospitals nationwide. They say that this vital and unique service helps provide a lifeline to those without access to transport, who have to travel long distances to appointments and to those who simply cannot afford the cost of travel and car parking costs. In 2016 alone, the volunteer service provided 21,350 drives to 1,163 chemotherapy patients, covering over 1,000,000 kilometres:
"Our much-needed service makes a real difference to chemotherapy patients that not only provides peace of mind, but can be felt in their pockets. We hope that the HSE adopt our guidelines on can parking, so we can further help in some small way to reduce financial worries at what can be a painful, tiring and emotionally draining time for many."The charity has now written to all city and county councillors asking them to put down motions at their next Council meeting calling on their local hospital to introduce free parking for cancer patients,
"This will need cross-party support and we’re asking politicians from all parties to get behind the initiative. We’re also asking the public to get involved by supporting the petition and to raise this issue with their local representatives."You can sign the 'Park the Charges' petition here. Do you think all hospital parking should be free? Let us know your thoughts in the Facebook comments.
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