Cancer patients are unhappy that the parking lot closest to Central Alberta Cancer Centre has been eliminated, creating mobility problems for some.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) says it is undertaking measures to minimize disruptions.
On Jan. 30, AHS posted on its website that the small parking lot immediately south of the cancer centre would transition to only a patient pickup and drop-off area in early February, and patients were to be advised of the changes.
Surface parking lots were being closed in preparation for the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre redevelopment project. Construction is supposed to begin this year on the new patient tower that will be located around the cancer centre.
Patient Shirley Thomas said she was unaware of the changes to parking until she drove to the cancer centre last week and parking was no longer available near the doors of the cancer centre.
"There's a 15-minute drop off where the driver has to stay in the car. That's not much help to somebody like myself who had driven there," said Thomas, adding treatment can take a couple of hours.
She was told to park in the hospital's parkade or underground parking. Thomas, who requires a walker, said those options would be fine if she didn't have mobility problems.
When she returned for treatment later in the week, her son dropped her off and picked her up at the cancer centre. But others may not have someone to drive them and would have to park elsewhere at the hospital, she said.
Thomas recalled how porters with wheelchairs were available inside the main entrance of the hospital to assist patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that could work for cancer patients now.
"To me, the easy solution would be to go through the main door, and there's a porter who will take you in a wheelchair to the cancer centre."
"(Patients) are already stressed enough without worrying how they are going to get to their treatment," said Thomas, who has been trying to speak with hospital administration and local MLAs about the mobility issue created for seniors and others.
A statement from Alberta Health Services said it is taking steps to minimize disruption to patients and families coming to Central Alberta Cancer Centre (CACC) and Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) with the changes to parking and site access.
"If patients have concerns about accessing an appointment at the CACC, they are encouraged to speak with their care team who will assist in addressing it, or they can call Patient Relations at 1-855-550-2555," AHS said.
"There is a drop-off point for patients outside of the CACC main entrance. Hospital porters are available to patients who require assistance to and from their appointments. Additional wayfinding volunteers have been scheduled during the day to help guide patients through any construction and can assist those with limited mobility in securing a wheelchair if required.
"Additional wheelchairs have been purchased for patients who may require assistance. These wheelchairs are placed in the main and east entrance of RDRHC for easy access, and within the main and lower levels of the CACC. Wheelchairs are collected regularly during the day and returned to these areas to ensure one remains available at all times for patients and/or family visitors who may require assistance."
Parking for cancer patients also continues to be available in both the underground and south parkades.
Updates on the Red Deer hospital redevelopment project can be found online at together4health.albertahealthservices.ca/rdrhc-redevelopment.
