VISITORS and staff put nearly £1.1 million into parking meters at the three Morecambe Bay hospital sites in the last financial year, it has been revealed.

New figures show £1,077,000 was generated for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in 2016/17 from car parks at Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal; Furness General Hospital, Barrow and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary - a £35,000 increase on the year before.

The figure also represents a 16 per cent increase from £928,000 raised in 2013/14.

According to the data, released to the Press Association under the Freedom of Information Act, £735,000 of the total sum was from patients and visitors. The remaining £342,000 was paid by staff.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb described the money raised as 'a tax on sickness'. He was supported by Tim Farron, the former party leader and Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, who moved the blame away from the NHS.

"I certainly would describe it as a tax on sickness, but I don't blame the trust for doing it," said Mr Farron.

"It's £1.1 million that they're able to put back into our health service. I blame the Government for underfunding the NHS so they have to do what they can to make the books balance.

"But it is a tax on sickness because those people who are unwell and their loved ones who are visiting them have to factor in this extra cost.

"It's the Government's failure to fund our local NHS properly why this is the case. I don't want to point the finger at the trust at all."

Aaron Cummins, deputy chief executive and director of finance at the trust, said parking fees ensured hospital car parks were used solely by patients, visitors and staff.

"The money made from parking fees is invested back into patient care and services across our hospitals, once the operational running costs of our car parks are accounted for," he said.

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“Blue badge holders can park for free at each of our hospitals, and there are also free short stay spaces available. For those patients or visitors that may visit our hospitals regularly, there are more cost effective weekly car parking passes available. Currently, a seven day car parking pass is £8, which is just under £1.20 per day.”

Hospitals across England took £174,526,970 in parking charges in 2016/17, up six per cent on the year before, according to the data. In 2015/16, £164,162,458 was raised.

The Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, in the West Midlands, came out top when it came to parking income, making £4,865,000 across the year.