BOSSES at Airedale Hospital are reviewing car parking charges to the public as they bring in increased charges for staff.

They say the rise for staff will bring Airedale NHS Foundation Trust into line with other health trusts.

An internal memo sent to Airedale staff states that Airedale's charges have up until now been significantly cheaper than average when compared with other trusts in the region.

The memo outlines the different staff salary bands and the amount staff in each band will need to pay for a one-month parking permit from February 28.

The current system has meant staff, irrespective of salary, have been paying £16.80 per month with the exception of employees using the priority car park, who pay £33.60. Staff working 20 hours or less paid 50 per cent of this rate.

Under the changes the charge for staff in the lowest pay bands of one to four will remain at £16.80.

But staff in bands five to seven will pay £25, bands eight and above £30 and consultants using the Education Centre car park will pay £49.

A member of staff at Airedale who asked not to be identified, said: "Qualified nurses will be on band five and above. That's an extra £8.20, an increase of nearly 50 per cent."

Confirming the changes, David Moss, Airedale Trust's assistant director of estates and facilities, said: “Parking is very important to our staff and patients, so as part of our plans to upgrade our car parks we've taken the difficult decision to increase staff charges in line with other local trusts. This will enable us to further develop our parking facilities in future.

"Staff will be charged on different tiers depending on their salary. Lower paid staff will not have to pay extra charges.

"We're installing a new barrier system to make it easier for patients and visitors to know where they can park and to make charges fairer. This'll ensure patients will only pay for the time they park.

"We also have plans to increase the number of spaces available.

"The last time we increased parking charges for the public was 2007, these charges are currently under review.

"When the barriers are installed the first 20 minutes for patients and visitors will be free.

"Concessions we currently offer for cancer patients and people visiting relatives who are in Airedale for longer than a week will continue.

"Exemption permits will continue to be available for visitors to the Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Baby Unit.

"We'll continue not to charge for disabled parking.”

The £200,000 pay-as-you-go barrier system should be finished by March and includes a clear separation of staff and visitor parking, barrier controls and a pay-on-exit scheme.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust's income from patient car parks in 2015-16 was £534,470 compared to £578,997 in the previous 12 months and £535,968 in 2013-2014.

The hospital's fees for Monday to Sunday are two hours for £2.50, four hours for £3 and £3.50 for up to 24 hours.