Cancer patient launches petition for special parking at Health Sciences

A St. John's cancer patient who missed an appointment at the city's largest hospital because she could not find a parking spot is rallying support for designated spaces.

"You're fighting the biggest battle of your life," said Susan Glynn, who has been receiving treatment for ovarian cancer at the cancer centre in the Health Sciences Centre.

After talking to otherswho had a similar problems, she decided to start a change.org petition to try and get special parking spots near the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre.

"To have to go fighting for a place to park,and then missing your appointments and stuffit puts undo stress on your body that you shouldn't have to be dealing with," she said Friday.

Glynn has collected about 1,700 signatures so far, from people including oncologists, doctors, nurses, patients and hospital staff. In addition to names, many people have shared their experiences in the comments section.

"Someone dealing with cancer has a lot of stress on [their]body as it is," write one person. "At least let them be able to park in a reserved parking spot close to the entrance."

Need cited for greateraccessibility

Glynn said she's heard from others who have missed appointments because of not being able to find a parking spot, often then having to use the general lab or outpatients which exposes them to sick people.

As well, she said walking a long distance across a parking lot is something many cancer patients, especially the elderly, find difficult and could make them worse.

"Accessibility is the key thing, because when you're having treatment you're fatigued," she told the St. John's Morning Show.

"Also, when you're going through chemotherapy your immunity is depleted."

Glynn thinks the logical thing to do would be to create a designated parking area right across from cancer centre, where patients could display a special pass in their windows.

"They could paint that section, and people going in for treatment could have sticker in their car," she said. "There's something that can be done."

Eastern Health aware of petition

Eastern Health says it's reviewing the onlinepetition and is taking it under consideration.

In an email to CBC News, a spokesperson with the health authority said its priority is providing accessible care to patients.

"Eastern Health appreciates that parking availability and distance from the entrances are issues for many patients," the authoritysaid.

"As such, we are continuously exploring options to improve parking for all patients, including cancer patients as well as patients with similar issues.

SinceGlynn's interview aired on CBC Radio,Health Minister Steve Kent tweeted thathe has asked Eastern Health to review the situation and report back to his office.

Meanwhile, Susan Glynn saidit will be hard to ignore the 1,700 individuals who have signed her petition.

"This parking issue has been a problem for years," she said.

"They're making it clear, we need to have a change."