STAFF at Fairfield Hospital have been left furious after they were told their parking fees were to rise by more than 40 per cent.

Union chiefs reacted angrily after employees received the news in their payslips.

Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs Fairfield and three other Hospitals, has increased the cost of staff parking across its sites, from £14 a month to £20, a rise of 43 per cent.

But hospital chiefs say it is the first increase in four years, and employees need to bear the cost of car parks and improvements so that money for patient care is not used. Union officials say staff should be exempt from parking charges altogether.

Unite representative and deputy staff side chairman Liz McInnes said: “Our position has always been that NHS staff should not have to pay to park at work. We were prepared to discuss a price increase in line with inflation, which currently runs at around five per cent, but not one of 43 per cent.”

Mick McAiney, Unison representative and deputy staff side secretary, added: “For many NHS staff, this represents giving up a week’s wages every year just to park at work. Many staff have had their pay frozen this year and certainly no one has had a pay rise of 43 per cent.”

A trust spokesman said: “We have made significant investment in lighting and CCTV. Those who use car parks need to bear the costs, otherwise we would need to fund them from money available for patient care.

“While the pay and display charges for patients and visitors have increased every year, this is the first increase in staff car parking permit charges for four years. While we accept that the increase is significant, it needs to be seen in that context.”

The £14 permit now costs £20 and covers staff working more than 25 hours a week.