BAU: The long-standing parking congestion at Bau Hospital is set to ease following the completion of an additional parking lot project within the hospital ground.
The 62 new parking lots are also expected to bring much-needed relief to patients, visitors and healthcare workers who have endured years of limited parking space.
The newly completed parking facility significantly expands the hospital’s existing parking capacity, addressing one of the most persistent challenges faced by the hospital staff and public when visiting the healthcare facility, particularly during peak hours.
For years, visitors to Bau Hospital had to contend with overcrowded parking areas, forcing many to park along roadside shoulders or walk long distances, causing inconvenience and safety concerns, especially for elderly patients, expectant mothers and those requiring urgent medical attention.
With the completion of the project, traffic flow within the hospital compound is expected to improve.
The state government-funded project reflects ongoing efforts to upgrade public healthcare infrastructure in Bau, in line with the growing population and increasing demand for medical services.
As Bau Hospital continues to serve as a key healthcare provider for surrounding rural areas, improvements such as this parking facility are seen as essential to enhancing overall patient experience.
Tasik Biru state assemblyman, Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, who had allocated RM200,000 from his Rural Transformation Project (RTP) allocations to help solve the parking problem in the Bau Hospital area that has been dragging on for so long, reiterated his commitment to addressing public concerns through practical infrastructure solutions.
He emphasised that healthcare facilities must be supported not only by medical services but also by adequate amenities.
The Deputy Minister for Transport (Riverine and Marine) witnessed the project presentation at Bau Hospital on Friday.
He, however, wanted the contractor to do some touch-up works on certain part of the newly completed parking lots upon detecting some defects during the completed project site inspection.
Aside from insufficient parking bays, lack of public transport is also said to have contributed to the over-congestion problem within the Bau Hospital area.
Like many other hospitals and clinics in Kuching, Bau Hospital is not well-served by public transportation, making it difficult for people to find alternative ways to get to the hospital other than by private transportation.
Hospital Bau is a 68-bed government hospital that provides non-specialist outpatient and inpatient services, including emergency, pharmacy and diagnostic units.
For specialist care, patients are referred to Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching.
The completion of the additional parking lot marks a positive step forward for Bau Hospital and the community it serves, ensuring safer, more convenient access to healthcare services while easing a long-standing issue that had affected daily hospital operations.
