New rules affect hospital parking fees

While parking remains free of charge at the County’s hospital, new rules are in effect for longer term parking at Belleville and Trenton hospitals.

Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins has ordered hospitals to provide five, 10 and 30-day passes with discounts of 50 per cent of their daily rate.

“When dealing with a health issue, patients and their families should not have the added burden of worrying about the high cost of parking when they go to the hospital,” said Hoskins, in a press release, estimating 900,000 patients a year could benefit from the changes.

The passes must also be transferrable between patients and caregivers, and their vehicles, be valid for one year, and allow in-and-out privileges throughout a 24-hour period. A new five-day pass for Belleville will cost $22.50.

There are no changes to the hourly and daily parking rates at Belleville (maximum day rate $15) and Trenton (max day rate $12) hospitals. Parking is also free of charge at QHC’s North Hastings hospital.

The discounted parking passes were designed to help save money for people who need to go to a hospital often, such as for a series of treatments, or to visit friends or family members who are in hospital for an extended stay.

Across the province, 45 hospitals offer free parking and 63 charge $10 or less per day. It is estimated that 45 hospitals charge more than $10 per day.

The government placed a cap on parking fees in January 2016 to be in effect until March 2019.