New cameras are being installed across a hospital’s car parks as part of a new “ticketless” parking system.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) devices are to be rolled out at Medway Maritime Hospital in Windmill Road, Gillingham from next month.

The cameras will be added on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park opposite the hospital entrance, and in its other parking lot by the green zone.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust says the move will make it easier for patients and visitors to pay to park.

Upon entry, a car’s number plate will be scanned automatically allowing the barrier to open.

Payment must then be made at the end of the stay using one of the pay stations inside each car park.

This can be made by cash or card.

Those with Blue Badges and concessionary patients will have to visit the Security Desk in the main entrance before leaving so staff can validate their parking

Despite assertions from the former Conservative administration they would scrap hospital car parking fees for millions of patients, visitors and NHS staff all NHS trusts in Kent still charge – as do others across the UK.

READ MORE: How much money has each hospital in Kent made from parking charges?

At Medway Maritime, parking costs £2.20 for zero to two hours; £3.30 for two to three hours; £4.40 for three to four hours; £5.50 for four to five hours; £8.80 for five to 24 hours and £10 for more than 24 hours.

In the 2022/23 financial year, it generated the trust £1,320,762.