THE hourly parking rate was reintroduced on Monday at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford in response to feedback from patients and visitors.

But the charge of £3.40 per hour, together with an increase from £4 to £4.50 for up to two hours, make it the highest charging NHS trust for short-stay users.

The steep parking fees levied by the Royal Surrey County Hospital and Frimley Health Foundation Trust have been condemned as a “charge on the sick”.

Frimley Park currently charges £3.40 for up to two hours and does not have an hourly rate.

Data published after Christmas by the Press Association showed that NHS trusts made more than £226m in 2017/18 from parking, including penalty fines.

While NHS trusts in England still levy parking fees, charges have been abolished in Wales and most of Scotland.

Frimley Health, one of England’s highest-earning trusts, made £4.5m in 2017-18 and has raised its charges in the last two financial years.

The Royal Surrey says revenue from car parking is used to provide and maintain its car parks and any additional income is put back into patient care.

Responding to complaints, the Royal Surrey has reduced weekly parking passes for cancer patients and Blue Badge holders by a third, as part of changes to parking tariffs.

This week’s move is part of a new travel plan being rolled out by the trust, which includes potentially leasing additional parking spaces for staff in neighbouring businesses, subsidising public transport for staff giving up parking permits and investment in new cycle facilities.

Ross Dunworth, director of finance and lead for estates, said: “We know parking is probably the biggest frustration for our patients, visitors and staff. Action has to be taken to try to minimise distress and disruption to patients and visitors coming for treatment and care.

“We hope that increasing provision and choice will make commuting for colleagues easier, while adhering to our commitments as part of the new travel plan, which we hope will provide additional spaces for patients and visitors.”

Basingstoke and North Hampshire, and the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, both charge £1.80 for an hour’s parking.