Nurse Says Hospital Parking Problem Is Putting Health Workers in Danger

A nurse in Hobart, Australia, was chased by a group of young men while walking to her car after a late-night shift at the Royal Hobart Hospital. The incident happened on a Monday night, just after 11 p.m., when Audrey McAllister was heading to her car parked about one kilometre away. She ran to her car, locked the doors, and called the police. The scary experience has brought attention to a bigger problem — hospital workers in Hobart do not have safe or affordable places to park their cars.

Ms. McAllister parked her car at an area called Queens Domain because there are no parking spots set aside for hospital staff near the city centre. Queens Domain is close to the hospital, but it is mostly bushland and does not have good lighting at night. Many nurses, midwives, and other shift workers park there to avoid paying high fees at nearby car parks. Ms. McAllister said she does not want to park there ever again. "I don't ever want to park up there again," she told 936 ABC Hobart.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Union, also known as the ANMF, says this kind of dangerous situation is not rare. Emily Shepherd, the secretary of the ANMF's Tasmania branch, said that what happened to Ms. McAllister was not an isolated incident. She and the union want the government to act before someone gets seriously hurt. The union represents nurses, midwives, and other health workers and fights for better pay and safer working conditions.

The Royal Hobart Hospital is the largest hospital in Tasmania and sits right in the middle of Hobart's central business district. Even so, staff often struggle to find nearby parking, especially for overnight and late shifts. The closest car park, on Argyle Street, closes at 10 p.m., which is too early for many shift workers. Another car park at Market Place is open all day and night, but using it several times a week can cost a lot of money that many workers cannot afford.

Ms. McAllister would like private car park companies to offer safe, dedicated parking for hospital shift workers at lower prices. Right now, there are no discounted or subsidised parking rates for healthcare workers in Hobart. The ANMF has asked the Tasmanian government to help fix the problem as part of ongoing talks about pay and working conditions. Among the requests are a shuttle service or security escorts to help staff get safely to their cars after night shifts, and a covered roof over the hospital's bike storage area so that workers who ride to work don't have to worry about their bikes being stolen.

The Tasmanian government said that any violence or threatening behaviour toward health workers is completely unacceptable. A government spokesperson said that violence prevention risk assessments are being carried out at all entrances to the hospital. The government also said it is still working to reach a fair deal with nurses and midwives on pay and working conditions. "We are continuing to negotiate in good faith," the spokesperson said.