Alanna Kelly

Nurses at Kelowna General Hospital are frustrated with parking changes, saying it's now costing them more than double to park at work.

Interior Health parking manager Andrew Pattison says there hasn't been an increase, but instead the health authority is just enforcing the rules.

“I think the biggest thing to point out right out of the gate is the metered parking has always been intended for patients and visitors at the hospital, not staff,” he said.

One nurse said parking is costing her $120 a month now.

“They used to offer one-month parking slips for $53. Also three-month slips, if you desired, for $154,” he said. “Now, they offer neither, only hourly, daily or weekly, which ... is now $30 a week.”

One-year passes are available to staff for $392.64 a year, but there is a three-year waitlist to get one.

“Nothing has changed for the patients or visitors. It is just we wanted to add some control to ensure the parking is available for the public who are trying to come to KGH,” said Pattison.

Staff who spoke to Castanet Wednesday were outraged to discover the lot they normally parked in had a bag covering the pay station stating pass holders only.

“There’s no information about anything. How am I supposed to resolve this issue?” said another staff member.

The hospital tries to allocate 60 per cent of parking to staff and 40 per cent to visitors and patients.

“We never wanted staff to park and take up the patient visitor spots to begin with. So, yes, a staff member could perceive this as an increase, but in reality they were never intended to park in those areas,” Pattison said.

Off-site parking has been made available five blocks away for $1 a day.

“IH is offering a five-block walk for parking at Cottonwoods in a dirt spot that is already over-filled. For nurses and other staff that are on their feet all day, the thought of a five-block walk, especially at night and in winter, is not only dangerous, but not wanted,” said one nurse.

Pattison encourages staff to consider carpooling.