Christchurch hospital workers are sleeping in their cars before their shifts in a desperate bid to secure parking, according to Mayor Phil Mauger, RNZ reported.
During a Christchurch City Council meeting on Wednesday, councillors voted to investigate allowing overnight car parking at the Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre once it opens in October. They also agreed to explore the possibility of providing free transport between the centre and Christchurch Hospital, located just a few hundred metres away.
Staff have long appealed for better parking options, citing unaffordable fees at nearby facilities and serious concerns over safety, RNZ reported.
Mauger said the issue was still ongoing, referencing a recent visit to the hospital where he learned that some staff, including nurses, were arriving as early as 4am and sleeping in their vehicles until their shifts began, simply to secure a nearby car park. He also described a conversation with a female staff member who reportedly told him she used a scooter to get to her car because she believed it would help her escape potential attackers more quickly.
Mauger said the existing hospital parking facilities did not adequately support shift overlaps and called for immediate action. He expressed a desire to have the Parakiore solution implemented as soon as the keys to the facility are handed over, stressing that the matter should not be delayed in bureaucratic processes. He emphasised the city’s obligation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of healthcare workers.
The need for urgent intervention has been underscored by recent incidents, including the assault of a hospital staff member on her way to work in May, and another case where a student midwife was attacked near the birthing unit after finishing her shift at night.
The council’s motion to explore the use of Parakiore for overnight parking received unanimous support.
Councillor Yani Johanson expressed frustration over the years-long failure to solve the parking issue. He recalled that during discussions around roading changes near Oxford Terrace, there had been suggestions to create a purpose-built parking structure in conjunction with hospital developments, but the idea was rejected at the time. He also noted that when plans for the Parakiore Centre were being developed, proposals for a multi-storey car park in partnership with the hospital were considered, but the health board and central government eventually withdrew their support.
Johanson added that staff have been unable to use a nearby private parking facility opened in 2023 due to prohibitively high costs. He voiced strong support for the council’s efforts, saying he believed ensuring people’s safety was critical.
Councillor Kelly Barber also backed the motion but questioned why the responsibility had fallen on local government rather than central authorities. He criticised the lack of planning, asking why a hospital would be built without adequate staff parking, especially in an area lacking sufficient public transport.
ISSUE
Leave a Comment