Patients at hospitals throughout the province have said hospital parking lots are overcrowded following the provinces elimination of fees in May. Photo by TIM KROCHAKArticle contentFive months after the Nova Scotia government eliminated parking fees at hospitals across the province, patients and visitors say the change has made parking more difficult, not less. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAt health-care facilities within Halifax, including the IWK Health Centre and the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, parking lots are often full by mid-morning. With a lack of turnover in addition to construction in areas around hospitals, many drivers say they are finding it harder than ever to get to appointments on time. Article contentArticle contentArticle contentCarrie McCabe, who was visiting the IWK for her son’s orthopedic appointment Friday, said it took nearly an hour to find a space to park.Article content“We had an appointment at 9:30 and we probably spent about 45 minutes looking for parking,” she said. “The parkade was full, but there was no indication until we got to the top. Then we had to wind all the way back down.” Article contentMcCabe eventually found a spot on a street three blocks away. Article content“If I had my truck instead of my little car, I don’t know what I would’ve done,” she said. “Parking on the streets isn’t realistic for someone with an injury or small children.” Article contentFree parking and access issuesArticle contentThe change to parking fees went into place May 1, fulfilling a campaign promise from Premier Tim Houston targeted toward breaking down financial barriers in health care. Article contentHowever, patients say free parking comes at the cost of accessibility. Article contentArticle contentBrooke Novak, who’d recently given birth and was attending followup at the IWK on Friday, said that parking ended up being a major concern for her throughout her pregnancy, especially when faced with complications.Article contentArticle content“I quite literally had to walk in preterm labour, so it put me more into labour from all that walking,” she said. “I could’ve gone into labour and I would’ve had a preterm baby that’s unable to breathe.” Article contentNovak said that while she can appreciate the idea surrounding free parking, it now seems under-monitored and overused as the lots always seem to be full.Article content“I’m sure people are utilizing it for other things besides the hospital and appointments and stuff like that,” Novak said, pointing out the hospitals are near Dalhousie University.
Free hospital parking in Nova Scotia causing more headaches, not less, say patients
