May 2, 2016
Parking improvements at the QEII Hospital benefit patients and their families, as well as staff.
Story and photo by Sara Warr
A few changes are helping ease parking pressures for both public and staff at the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Hospital in Grande Prairie. Parking services has been busy in recent months adding new parking spaces around the hospital.
There are 28 new staff parking stalls now available with the paving of what’s known as the Peace Lot on the south side of the QEII. Tara Taylor is a Parking and Protective Services Manager with Alberta Health Services (AHS).
“The paving work also included the addition of sidewalks and curbs, which reduces the risk of slips and falls and makes staff feel safer walking to and from their vehicles,” Taylor explains.
Security cameras and street lights were also added to the staff lot, something Brad Smith, an IT Advisor at the QEII, appreciates.
“I think the lighting and security cameras help deter vandals from targeting vehicles, so that makes me feel better,” explains Smith. “The new pavement really makes a difference too, making more room for staff who park there.”
With the addition of the new spaces in the Peace lot, parking services was also able to shift parking elsewhere, making room for an additional 11 public parking spaces near the emergency department.
“Frustration about parking is something that we hear about from staff and the public alike, so we’re glad that we’ve been able to make these changes to improve things a bit,” says Taylor.
The parking area in front of Mackenzie Place has also been widened, making room for seven new spaces for family of continuing care clients and QEII daycare drop-offs, while another 12 stalls are now available east of the hospital for staff and volunteers.
Changes to how QEII visitors pay for parking have also arrived, with new equipment installed inside the hospital.
“Visitors don’t need to pay and then return to their vehicle to put the slip on the dash,” Taylor explains. “Instead, you just enter your license plate number into the parking machine inside the building and pay there. This should make the process easier on patients and their loved ones, and parking equipment breakdowns due to the cold weather will basically be eliminated.”
The new equipment is located inside the main entrance, the emergency department and the cancer centre. Signage includes tips on how to remember your license plate number, like taking a cell phone photo of your vehicle’s plate.
While the changes won’t solve everything, those who regularly park at the QEII are happy to see an effort is being made.
“Parking has been a sore spot here for a while,” says Smith. “But I’m glad to see work is being done to improve that for both patients and staff.”
