Mum Slapped with $1000 Fine Campaigns to Scrap Parking Fees at Public Hospitals

A mum who was slapped with a $1000 fine as she rushed her sick son into emergency is now campaigning to scrap parking fees at public hospitals.

Monique Garcia, from Perth, is a frequent visitor at Princess Margaret Hospital where she takes her son, Nathan, who was born with half a heart, for treatment. However, one time, she was slapped with a $1000 fine at a paid parking in the hospital after failing to buy a parking ticket while inside the hospital for just two hours.

After she found the ticket on her car, Ms Garcia accused the State Government of preying on sick children’s parents and has now made a petition to scrap parking fees for frequent visitors at public hospitals.

“I am disgusted to hear from members of our community that people have been forced to tend to the meter in amongst operations, distressed family members, and even children’s deaths.

“Why are we being charged for visiting a hospital?

“Families with sick family members are already severely disadvantaged. We do not go there by choice,” Ms Garcia says in her petition.

Ms Garcia’s petition has now gained more than 76,000 supporters, one of whom, Anna Stokes, says she forked out $300 in hospital parking costs during the final month of her mother’s life. “It’s just money making,” she said.

Ms Garcia, who maintains a Facebook page, The Nathan Project for her son, said that despite her ticket being overturned by Health Minister John Day, she said that she’s spent plenty of money on hospital parking when in and out with her son.

“Just need more public pressure to make that happen…We shouldn’t be charged for having sick children,” she said.

Mr Day said free parking may not happen, but he conceded that there is a chance regular hospital visitors could have parking capped at an annual fee of around $200.

Source: Au.news.yahoo.com