Shift workers at Wagga Base Hospital say a shortage of parking means they face long walks back to their cars late at night.
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Wagga district woman Claire Lawson has written to The Daily Advertiser to voice her concerns about how the arrangements affected night-working staff.
Mrs Lawson has a shift-working family member who often has to park some distance from the hospital and then faces a late-night walk back to their car.
“While staff members who work morning shift and normal office hours have the option of parking in the all-day staff car park, those who work evening shift now have to park on the street, often many blocks away,” she said.
“These workers finish in the dark, often as late as 10pm or 11pm, and it is not unusual for one or more staff members who have had a particularly demanding workload or extra responsibilities to leave work later than their colleagues.”
Mrs Lawson questioned whether it was safe for staff to be walking alone late at night as they returned to their cars.
In the lead-up to the Wagga byelection, NSW Health Minister announced Wagga Base would get a $30 multi-storey 800-space car park as part of the redevelopment project.
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“But even if this car park goes ahead when they say it will, it’s years away. The staff really need parking now,” Mrs Lawson said.
A NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association spokesperson said the union’s Wagga Base branch had previously raised concerns about parking around the hospital
“A lot of staff are upset. It’s a nightmare to park, especially for the afternoon staff,” the spokesperson said.
Wagga Base Hospital director Helen Cooper has responded to the concerns raised by Mrs Lawson.
“The safety of patients, visitors and staff at Wagga Base Hospital is paramount,” Ms Cooper said.
“Four years ago, Wagga Base Hospital introduced a shuttle bus service for employees on the afternoon shift.
“The bus takes staff from the hospital to their cars parked in streets around the health campus.
“Running every 10 minutes between 9.30pm and 10.30pm, when the afternoon shift finishes, the shuttle ensures the safety of staff at night and frees up spaces in the car park for patients and visitors.
“Any staff working after 10.30pm can be escorted to their vehicle by security staff.”
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