Paid parking services offered by the hospital.
The Entre Douro e Vouga Local Health Unit (ULS EDV) has plans to implement paid parking at São Sebastião Hospital in Aveiro, aiming to address chronic parking congestion. The initiative is scheduled to commence on an undetermined date but could be as early as this Thursday.
The new system will affect the more than 180 parking spaces previously reserved for public vehicles, which will now be located closer to the hospital's main entrance. The ULS administration states that the measure aims to prioritize parking for patients and their companions, as the increasing pressure on available spaces has become a significant challenge.
Initially, the first quarter of an hour will be free for drivers dropping off patrons. From then on, each subsequent 15-minute fraction will cost 30 cents, amassing to €1.20 per hour. A hospital source declined to confirm the pricing for staff parking, although a visit to the facility shows signs indicating this structure.
Presently, there's a reserved parking area for hospital staff, but it's often insufficient, particularly during day shifts. Consequently, select employees may also be obliged to use the paid parking area. The ULS administration has been noncommittal about whether these workers will receive a different pricing scheme compared to other users.
São Sebastião Hospital is one of the last hospitals in the country to offer free parking for several years. Under the new system, ULS will manage the 24/7, 365-day operation, with barriers, video surveillance cameras, and vehicle access control instruments to enhance safety and security. The revenues generated by the paid parking will fund hospital improvements, according to ULS.
No identical measures have been declared for hospitals in Madeira, Oliveira de Azemeis, and Ovar, but ULS's new mobility strategy involves improving parking capacities for bicycles and vehicles transporting disabled individuals. These improvements will allow such vehicles to park more conveniently when carrying appropriate cards or legal stickers.
The ULS EDV is planning to utilize the revenue from the paid parking at São Sebastião Hospital to fund health-and-wellness improvements, signifying a shift in the science-based approach to improving property, starting with the hospital. To further prioritize health, the paid parking system will initially offer a free 15-minute grace period for health-and-wellness-related activities such as dropping off patients or health professionals, before transitioning to a tiered pricing structure.
