PLANS to increase parking charges at two hospitals in Bradford have been branded "crazy" and "disgusting" by Telegraph & Argus readers.

The new tariffs, revealed by the Telegraph & Argus yesterday, will mean the cost of parking for three hours will jump by 75 per cent from £2 to £3.50.

The existing 24-hour option, which costs £5, will be scrapped altogether. Patients and visitors will have to return to their car and buy additional tickets for longer stays, which pushes the cost of a 24-hour visit up to £20.50 - a 310 per cent hike.

Under the overhaul, there will be five parking bands for people using Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) and St Luke's Hospital, with the maximum option covering five to ten hours, although the parking charges are in force 24 hours a day.

Commenting on the T&A Facebook page, Craig Charlton said: "It's crazy prices."

Nicola Poulton-White added: "So no 24 hour charges? What about those using maternity and can be in labour for days? Or kiddies in special care where parents visit all day and night?"

She said the changes would only cause people to park further away on the streets, although time-restricted zones or resident-only permits operate in public areas around BRI.

A spokesman for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the two sites, said: "In the event that a patient wishes to park for longer than ten hours, then further payment tariff options are available from the range of tariffs to cover their stay."

Concessionary parking will still be offered to patients with repeat appointments or requiring longer stays, he said.

The Trust said the existing system disadvantaged visitors and patients staying for longer than three hours, who must pay the 24-hour rate.

Under the changes, due to start on an unspecified date later this month, £4.50 would buy fours hours parking and £5.50 would cover fives hours - compared to the current £5 for 24 hours price.

Two hours will cost £2.50 and five to ten hours will cost £8.

T&A reader Saiqua Aslam said: "This is absolutely disgusting, rather than making things easier the hospital is making silly changes.

"If they are going to increase the price, maybe they should also think of the difficulties people face with their inadequate machines and gear those up to higher standards. The machine should take card payments and more free short stay parking should be provided."

In response, a spokesman for the Trust said: "We are currently reviewing our car parking facilities and will be examining development options for pay and display machines and assessing the potential for introducing barriers supporting pay-on-exit facilities."

The Trust collected about £2,000 a day last year from parking charges, but said the money was used for the upkeep and running of the sites, protecting funds for frontline health services.

Anyone who does not have a valid ticket will be handed a parking charge notice.