A LACK of lift access at a multi-storey carpark at Frankston Hospital has been defended by Peninsula Health on the grounds it was not necessary under Victoria’s building regulations.
Peninsula Health chief operating officer Brendon Gardner told ABC 774 radio presenter Jon Faine last Monday (9 November) that no elevator access at the carpark was “an oversight” but said the hospital was not legally obliged to provide access for wheelchairs or prams at the carpark.
“The top two levels are for staff and the bottom level is for visitors so under the requirements of the Building Code we do have to provide disability access in terms of the lower level,” Mr Gardner said.
“We do believe that it’s an oversight with regards to having a lift up to the upper levels even from a staff point of view.”
Mr Gardner said the design “was in accordance with guidelines” at the time of construction.
The Peninsula Health executive said the multi-deck carpark is one parking option at Frankston Hospital and there are 1250 vehicle spaces at the hospital grounds.
Jon Faine said he found it “incredible” that a multi-storey carpark had been built without lifts.
“It’s astonishing from an outsider’s point of view,” he said.
When contacted by The Times Peninsula Health provided a statement from director of facilities management Geoff DeCampo: “Frankston Hospital’s multi-deck car park was built in accordance with Victorian building regulations and codes in 2012.
“In addition to the multi-deck car park, there are 700 street-level car parks onsite. We are currently exploring options to build an additional multi-deck car park, with 750 accessible spaces, in the near future.”
Mr Gardner also told Jon Faine another multi-deck carpark will be built at the hospital next year.
“We’re about to build another multi-deck [carpark]. We’re starting in 2016 with a 750 space multi-deck that we are absolutely putting lifts in,” he said.
