Andrew Dickens Afternoons

Hospital parking has been driven back into the headlines. Waitemata DHB in Auckland has agreed it needs to make people more aware of how they could qualify for free parking at its hospitals.The guidelines apply in extreme circumstances, such as being the mother of a child in the Special Care Unit or if an elderly spouse is dying.However, complaints that led to the DHB's discussion today included general parking prices - and the fact older people find it tough to afford to visit patients.The DHB will be introducing a $50 discount for multiple entries across seven days. Callers to Andrew Dickens revealed their own experiences with hospital parking.One caller said that, after having a massive heart attack, he was unable to afford the parking as he was on the benefit.Instead, he had to find a free car park nearby and would walk to the hospital from there. LISTEN TO THE TALKBACK FEEDBACK ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.