Plans to scrap parking charges at hospitals across the district has been rejected by the coalition Government because the NHS needs “every penny”.

Labour had pledged to look at providing all in-patients with a parking pass so relatives could visit them in hospital for free.

But Conservative Health Minister Simon Burns announced fees must stay because there is no money to cover the hole it would leave in health service coffers.

A spokesman for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, said it had consulted local representatives to ensure that its parking policy is equitable to all patients and visitors.

He added: “Charges have been maintained at the same level for the last six years and the current car parking rates are £2 for three hours and £5 for all day.

“Our aim is keep car parking charges as low as possible and we have long operated a concessionary scheme for a wide range of patients, relatives and carers who have repeat appointments or long stays in hospital.

“The money we receive from parking charges goes towards the maintenance and improvement of all car parks at both our hospitals and we use these funds to purchase land and provide security which includes regular patrols, CCTV, lighting, etc. The car parks do not generate a profit and our aim will always be to keep charges as low as possible.”

The Trust earns £1.2 million per year from parking charges.

At Airedale, parking costs £2.50 for up to two hours, £3 for two to four hours and £3.50 for up to 24 hours.

For 2008/09, the Airedale NHS Trust received £565,843 cash income from car parking, however, this is total income and does not have the costs of running the car parks, such as security and maintenance, taken out.

Ann Wagner, director of strategy and business development at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said: “We keep car parking costs constantly under review and provide concessions to various groups of patients and their visitors, such as parents of babies on our special care baby unit or those with relatives who are in hospital for longer stays.”

Health Minister Mr Burns said the Government could not support the proposal at a time when the NHS needed to make every penny of its budget count.

The Department of Health estimated that subsidising hospital parking would cost the NHS more than £100m, while failing to invest the cash in healthcare would lead to the loss of a further 200m in patient benefits.

But Wales and Scotland, where responsibility for health is devolved, have a free hospital parking policy.

Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary and a candidate for the Labour leadership, said families would be disappointed by the decision.

He said: “When someone has a relative in hospital it’s a very stressful time and worrying about parking tickets and charges can make this worse.”