(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Patient supports

‘Misuse’ of free parking passes attributed to cancellation: SHA

Apr 22, 2024 | 1:48 PM

Just days after a Prince Albert cancer patient raised concerns with respect to the sudden cancellation of free parking passes at Victoria Hospital, the Saskatchewan Healthy Authority is sharing its reason why.

According to a statement provided to paNOW, parking for cancer patients was managed differently by each former Regional Health Authority (RHA). They proceeded to cite the fact that in Regina/Saskatoon, cancer patient parking has always been paid parking; however, in Prince Albert, cancer patients had traditionally received free parking under the former Prince Albert Parkland RHA.

“In late 2023, Parking Services implemented a new provincial parking policy, and installed new parking equipment at Victoria Hospital. There is now a consistent approach to parking services in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw and Yorkton, where cancer patients are no longer provided with free parking,” the SHA said.

The statement explained when the new parking equipment was installed in Prince Albert last fall, current patients continued to received free parking and new patients had to pay for parking.

“This was accommodated by use of a code that was provided to the existing patients. Unfortunately, an internal audit uncovered misuse of this privilege,” the SHA said.

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When Prince Albert City Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick spoke to paNOW on Friday, he stressed concerns related to the potential hardship the changes may incur on people who cannot afford to pay for parking. He also explained many of these same people are already under a great deal of stress and don’t need anything extra.

In their statement, the SHA noted Parking Services is working towards alternative options to provide some support for patients who had been receiving these benefits previously; adding there will need to measures taken to avoid the same problem with non-eligible people using this privilege.

“The goal is to have a fair and consistent provincial policy at all locations throughout the province.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell