Vancouver hospital parking fees defended by officials

Lower Mainland health care administrators are defending hospital parking fees, after Canada's top medical journal called for their abolition in an editorial on Monday.

Rajendra Kale, the interim editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, says parking fees for patients at hospital are a hidden form of user fee and contrary to the Canada Health Act.

The Ottawa neurosurgeon says patients of his have interrupted complicated discussions of their procedures to plug a meter and others with chronic illnesses requiring many hospital trips simply can't afford it.

"I do not want parking to be on the minds of patients when they come and see me," said Kale.

But  Geoff Roberts, the parking director for the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities, says the parking fees cover non-medical hospital costs, and if the fees were eliminated it would take money out of the health  care budget.

"There are still costs to administer the parking, whether you charge or not.  We'd still need to identify vehicles. We'd still need to provide patrol and enforcement. We'd still need to provide signage, lighting, paving, snow removal, landscaping. All those other expensive items don't go away whether we charge or not," he said.

And it's not just parking that patients are paying for these days he notes.

"There are already service fees attached to private versus public rooms, preferred meals, preferred entertainment," said Roberts.

However, one Metro Vancouver municipality doesn't allow parking meters anywhere, including its hospital. Delta Mayor Lois Jackson says people shouldn't have to pay to visit their loved ones:

"I think having loved ones around you to assist you is a part of patient care, and it's part of having the family and friends attend," said Jackson.