NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat and Deputy Leader and MLA for Regina Douglas Park Nicole Sarauer are calling on the government to commit to building a new parking facility at Regina General Hospital to improve access for both staff and families.
“Nurses and health care workers, patients and their families, everyone who needs to access our hospitals deserves to do so as safely and as conveniently as possible,” said Mowat. “The wait list for a staff parking spot is up to 11 years, staff fear for their own safety or vandalism of their vehicle when they have to walk blocks to their car after a night shift, and family members of patients are spending time hunting for parking spots that they should be spending with their loved ones.”
Mowat noted that there is a massive $3.3 billion infrastructure deficit in our healthcare system, which the Sask. Party has refused to address. In 2013, the Sask. Party said the Regina General Hospital needed up to 600 spots, but has done little to add capacity since.
“I’ve heard loud and clear from my constituents how important this is,” said Sarauer. “This is a safety issue, an access issue, and affects not just those who live or work nearby, but everyone in the province who seeks care at one of our largest health facilities.”