Windsor Regional Hospital has introduced a new parking and shuttle service for Cancer Centre patients. Effective immediately, cancer patients and their support persons can park at the hospital’s Kildare staff parking lot at 1591 Kildare Rd. and take a complimentary shuttle directly to the Cancer Centre entrance on the southwest corner of the Metropolitan Campus. Hospital officials say the program is intended to provide patients with another convenient parking option while helping reserve nearby parking spaces for those with mobility and accessibility needs. Patients registered to use the service will receive a permit to display on their vehicle dashboard or rearview mirror. The lot will continue to be monitored to ensure appropriate use. “We have heard from patients and families about the challenges of finding parking when coming for cancer treatment,” Windsor Regional Hospital President and CEO Kristin Kennedy said in a statement. “We recognize that parking can be a source of stress at an already difficult time in a cancer patient’s journey. While this solution will not eliminate all parking challenges, it is a meaningful step that provides more options for patients and helps improve access to the Cancer Centre.” Previously, when parking spaces near the Cancer Centre were full, patients were directed to use the main visitor lot on the north side of the Metropolitan Campus, requiring a longer walk to the Cancer Centre entrance. The hospital says hundreds of patients visit the Cancer Centre each week and demand for nearby parking regularly exceeds available capacity. Like many urban hospitals, Windsor Regional Hospital faces limitations on expanding parking at its existing campuses because of surrounding development. Brandon Bailey, the hospital’s vice-president of redevelopment, said the new shuttle service makes better use of existing parking resources while supporting patients who require close-access parking. “We know the last thing a patient undergoing cancer treatment needs is the added stress of searching for a parking space,” Bailey said. “This initiative makes better use of existing parking resources while supporting the patients who need close-access parking the most.” Hospital officials say the program is part of broader efforts to address parking challenges while planning continues for expanded parking infrastructure as part of the region’s future hospital development. Windsor Regional Hospital also says it is continuing discussions with the City of Windsor to explore opportunities to increase street parking options for Cancer Centre patients around the Metropolitan Campus.
