By Hayley Robinson

A patient watchdog has attacked hospitals including Medway Maritime Hospital for charging patients and visitors parking fees.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust revealed it raised £930,000 revenue from parking fees at the Gillingham hospital last year but The Patients Association says people should not have the extra worry of having to pay car parking charges when visiting their local hospital.

As a result the charity is calling for the charges to either be reduced or scrapped altogether.

Michael Summers, vice chairman of the association, said: "Hospitals should not be allowed to make ‘profits’ by charging patients and their families (to use the car park).

"Most people worry about how much it’s going to cost them because they have no idea how long they are going to be there. Then there is the worry that they might get a fine or be clamped as some hospital car parks are run by national car parking companies.

"We have no power to get the charges scrapped or lowered, all we can do is speak up on behalf of the patients who bring this matter to us and hope the Department of Health issues some directive which would be beneficial."

Medway NHS Foundation Trust has defended its car parking charges.

A spokesman for the Trust said: "Monies received from car parking goes towards the repair and maintenance of our car parks, and surpluses from this are invested in patient care. If we did not charge for car parking, this money would have to be taken from funds that would otherwise be used for patient care.

"We do however have many concessions in place for the long-term sick and disabled, and friends and relatives inpatients, to make parking easier for them. Disabled badge holders can park free of charge, long-term cancer patients are entitled to free car parking, patients with a Liverpool Care Pass can park for free, concessions are available for the families and friends of patients on Intensive Care Unit or Coronary Care Unit and parents/guardians of children on the paediatric wards are entitled to discounted rates."