20 Jun 2018

People heading to Christchurch Hospital will be able to take advantage of a new shuttle service from the start of next month.

From 2 July Canterbury District Health Board’s popular hospital shuttle pick-up location will shift from the Deans Avenue car park to Christchurch City Council’s Lichfield Street Car Park building, at 33 Lichfield Street.

An aerial photo of Christchurch Hospital.

An aerial photo of Christchurch Hospital.

The CDHB has made the move, in conjunction with the Council, to ensure that hospital visitors and patients can benefit from the brand-new car park facilities at the Lichfield Street Car Park building. It will make for a more pleasant and stress-free parking experience, particularly over the winter months, as the parking is all under cover and well lit.

"We set up our original hospital shuttle service back in October 2014 as a temporary stop-gap to ease our hospital parking problems, and we’ve transported nearly one million passengers since then,'' says CDHB Chief Executive David Meates.

“We know that parking at the hospital is still very difficult and will remain so until a replacement for the old blue public car park is built. Until that time we will continue to run a hospital shuttle to and from the Lichfield Street Car Park building to ensure that people get to their hospital appointments on time.

"I’m very pleased to announce this great improvement in our service – our thanks to the Council for the opportunity and for working with us towards this solution,'' Mr Meates says.

Christchurch City Council Chief Executive Dr Karleen Edwards says the new parking arrangement makes perfect sense and she is pleased the Council has been able to assist the CDHB with its parking issues.

How to catch the shuttle

The shuttle is easy to use. Drive in at 33 Lichfield Street, take a ticket, park anywhere there’s a space, and catch a ride to Christchurch Hospital from the waiting area on Level 2A.

The shuttle will bring you back to Level 2A after your appointment

Pay before you return to your car, and drive out.

The parking building has lifts and stairs between all floors.  The pay station on the ground floor takes cash and cards or use the pay station on Level 2A for cards only.

Prefer to walk?

It’s roughly a 10 minute walk from Lichfield Street Car Park building to the hospital. While roadworks are going on, the best route is along Tuam Street.

For more information see cdhb.health.nz/parking or call 0800 555 300.