A pensioner who has had a heart attack and suffers from leukaemia and diabetes today told hospital bosses: "Hurry up with the cheap car parking."

Dennis Scanlon, 71, said he was spending a fortune on parking during visits to Bradford Royal Infirmary for his treatment.

He has to attend exercise classes, leukaemia clinics and tests in the run-up to an angiogram next month. He is also being treated for an eye condition.

The pensioner sometimes visits the hospital three times a week and has so far spent £57 on parking fees.

He faces at least seven more visits before the angiogram operation and yet more charges.

And now he says he wants to be among the first when the new £1 a day concessionary charges, suggested by Trust chief executive David Jackson, are brought in.

Mr Jackson told the Patient and Public Involvement Forum last month the new charge might be brought in for those hardest hit in response to the huge protest at the price hikes.

Mr Scanlon, a former plumber and engineer, of Wrose, said: "I worked all my life and paid a good whack for free hospital treatment on the NHS - and it isn't any more.

"They say they are making £250,000 a year from the parking after costs but they are doing so by making money out of their patients.

"I have no quarrel with the treatment I am getting but the fees are just ridiculous. Everybody thinks so."

Charges at Bradford hospitals have risen from £1 to £3 for four hours and all-day parking costs up to £5.

Mr Scanlon first felt unwell after playing golf three months ago.

His chest felt tight the day after the round and after undergoing tests doctors told him he had suffered a heart attack.

A Trust spokesman said: "We are sympathetic to the needs of those who have to visit the Trust frequently or for long periods of time.

"We are actively looking into the possibility of introducing a concession which would work out at about £1 a day."