Patients, visitors frustrated with parking at Ottawa Hospital General Campus

The parking lot at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

Finding a parking spot is a frustration many patients and visitors to the Ottawa Hospital General Campus know all too well.

Some say it can take up to an hour just to get into a lot and as one cancer patient says, that’s time and energy she doesn’t have to spare.

Robin Mercer has been battling cancer since 2018. Part of that battle is trying to find a parking spot at the hospital.

“You can sometimes wait up to an hour to just get into the lot to park your vehicle. And as a cancer patient, your energy is at a premium,” Mercer said.

Mercer says she’s frustrated seeing dozens of contractor vehicles taking up visitor spots all day, spots she believes should be reserved for patients who need them.

“I counted 26 contractor vehicles that are in there doing work. They’re there all day. So those spots aren’t available to the cancer patients who are coming in for those appointments throughout the day,” she said.

In a statement sent to CTV News, The Ottawa Hospital says it is taking steps to improve the parking situation.

“Parking capacity has been a long-standing challenge at The Ottawa Hospital, and we continue to find innovative solutions. To support staff and improve access for patients and visitors, we are adding staff parking spaces to off-site locations near the General Campus that will be serviced by regular shuttles, freeing up more on-site parking for patients and visitors. We are continuing to increase parking capacity and find solutions to balance the needs of our patients, visitors, staff and physicians,” a statement from the hospital said.

Mercer isn’t the only one struggling with parking. Others attending the hospital say they see it too.

Many visitors opt to park across the street on Lynda Lane to avoid the long wait times and high prices.

“It’s very complicated. And this is just much easier,” said Daphne Sandre, a hospital visitor. “I just like to be able to park very quickly, and I don’t mind the walk. And I find it always very expensive parking.”

Cathy Leclair says she overheard a patient in the waiting room frustrated about the delays.

“One woman this morning said it was 45 minutes to get into the parking this morning. That’s why she was late for her appointment. We overheard her in the waiting room. She was really pissed,” Leclair said.

Cathy and Paul Leclair say they avoid onsite parking at all costs but know some people have no choice.

“You know, we can walk. A lot of people are in chairs and whatever, and they can’t, so they can’t park here. They have to park inside,” Paul Leclair said.

Others say you just need to plan for the delays.

“Oh, I came early. There were some spots. Not too bad,” said another hospital visitor.

For patients like Mercer, the frustration isn’t with the care she receives, it’s with the parking.

“I cannot fault the care I get at the General Hospital. They’re absolutely awesome. Where my frustration lies is literally trying to park to get access to these services,” she said.