Cancer campaign asks hospitals nationwide to take example from Portiuncula

Galway Bay fm newsroom – A leading cancer charity is calling on hospitals nationwide to take example from Portunicula in Ballinasloe in offering free parking to cancer patients.
The ‘Park the Charges Campaign’ from the Irish Cancer Society has examined parking fees nationwide – and found that the west of Ireland offers the lowest rate.
The campaign is calling on all hospitals to scrap charges for cancer patients – and it points to Portiuncula in Ballinasloe as an example for others to follow.
It says that parking charges are hurting people who are in a vulnerable position – and is urging the universal adoption of practices already in place at Portiuncula and several other facilities including Mayo General Hospital and St. Lukes in Rathgar.
Meanwhile, a study conducted by the Irish Cancer Society found that parking fees at University Hospital Galway are on the lower end of the national scale.
An hours parking at UHG is €2 – that’s an improvement on the majority of the countries hospitals, who typically charge between 2.50 and 3 euro per hour.
Overall, the west of Ireland offers the cheapest parking rates, with an hours parking at hospitals in Connacht costing an average of €2.67.