Figures show that hospitals across England are making more than £110 million each year from car parking charges paid by patients and their families and NHS staff.
According to official figures from the Department of Health (DoH), £83 million in fees was paid by patients and their families and friends, and a further £27 million was paid by NHS staff last year alone.
Figures show that three NHS trusts made in excess of £2 million from visitors' fees in 2007/08.
Research found that visitors to the Worthing & Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust in Sussex were paying the highest average hourly charge at £3.20, while car park charges in Yeovil and Southampton were only slightly lower at £3.
Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust made £2,469,978, and a further £573,095 from staff over the year, while Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust made £2,022,546, plus £1,055,045 from employees.
The data for 2007/08, which was released by the DoH in response to parliamentary questions, would show much higher figures if an additional 68 trusts, which opted not to provide details of their charges, were included.
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