A mother is concerned that parking at the new hospital in Dover is more expensive than parking in London.

Claire Vinall-Smith, 34, said she visited Buckland Hospital for an appointment on February 24 and realised how costly it was to park there.

She only had £2 on her, which secured her an hour of parking – Mrs Vinall-Smith thought this was “ridiculous” and too expensive.

Where she used to live in Bromley, the car park at the Princess Royal hospital was £1.50 an hour, whereas at Dover 20 minutes to an hour costs £2.

Mrs Vinall-Smith, of Clarendon Place, said: “People aren’t made of money, we all work hard for what we earn.

“I struggled to take in what the doctor was saying because I wanted to get back to the car so I didn’t get a ticket.”

“Any revenue which is not allocated to upkeep, security or improvement of our car parks is reinvested into supporting front-line patient services.” - East Kent Hospital Trust

She claims that when she was pregnant with her daughter Ruby, now seven months old, and going for regular check-ups at the old hospital in Dover it didn’t cost as much money.

“If the appointment is over-running, you risk leaving so you don’t get a ticket. You can’t pick and choose when you’re going there for a reason. If it was £1 an hour, that isn’t that bad.”

She said that all the way through her appointment she was clock- watching rather than taking in what was happening and when she got home to her husband Dom, 29, she realised she had missed parts of what had been said due to her panicking about a potential parking fine.

She said: “I was thinking have I got time for this or should I come back another day?

“Fair enough, people have to pay for parking. I get that, but it’s a lot of money when people can’t choose to be there.”

From November 2, 2015, parking at Buckland Hospital has been free for up to 20 minutes and £2 from 20 minutes up to an hour.

Up to two hours is £3, up to four hours is £4, five hours is £5, six hours is £6, seven hours is £7 and seven to 24 hours is £8.

A weekly ticket would cost £12.

A spokesman for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said all charges went to improvements in the car park or to the NHS for patient services.

She said: “East Kent Hospital parking charges are set to ensure it can continue to invest in parking facilities for patients and visitors in the future.

“The trust fully meets and exceeds the Department of Health’s NHS patient, visitor and staff car-parking principles. We provide a range of concessions, plus free parking for blue-badge holders and 20 minutes free for drop-offs or pick-ups.

“We run our parking service in-house, which means no contracted private company makes profit from our car park charges.

“Any revenue which is not allocated to upkeep, security or improvement of our car parks is reinvested into supporting front-line patient services.”