Niagara hospital parking fees set to increase Saturday

Niagara Health says starting Saturday, hospital visitor parking rates will increase as part of its efforts to address rising costs and support the financial sustainability of patient care.

The organization says the maximum daily rate will increase to $20 from $19.

Each half hour will cost $3.75, a monthly pass will be $100.75 and a multi-pass to access different hospitals will cost $300 for 30 days.

“This is a tax and it is a result of the Ford government’s cuts and underfunding, leaving our healthcare system to fend for itself,” Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates posted on Instagram.

“In a publicly-funded, publicly-delivered healthcare system, the last thing that people need to worry about when they have loved ones in the hospital is the price of parking.”

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Niagara Health says it recognizes that hospital visits and parking can already be stressful for patients and families, working to keep rates stable for as long as possible.

Each year, parking generates about $7.6 million to support patient care delivery, making it an important funding source for the hospital.

Prior to the last adjustment nearly two years ago, Niagara Health had not increased parking rates for nine years and planned changes were delayed during the pandemic. Although the last increase helped, it wasn’t enough to cover rising costs.

While the updated rates follow the Ministry of Health’s Hospital Parking Directive and align with comparable hospitals, Niagara Health says it will continue offering discounted options to help manage costs for frequent users, including patients, visitors, staff, students and volunteers.

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