Patients to pay for car parking

Officials say the hospitals have reached their car parking limits

Officials at two Leicester hospitals are reminding patients and visitors that car parking charges will be introduced from Monday.

Leicester General and Glenfield hospitals treat almost a million patients every year and say they have reached their limit on car parking.

From 5 February a pay and display system will be introduced as well as parking staff to help visitors.

The move has previously been criticised by the Leicester Patients' Group.

Brought into line

The group campaigned against the charges, believing fees were unnecessary.

But in a statement, a spokeswoman from the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said charges had to be introduced.

"After consultation with the public and patient representative groups, the Trust board decided in 2005 to introduce car parking charges at Glenfield hospital and Leicester General Hospital," the statement read.

"This brings them into line with most other hospitals in the country and with the Leicester Royal Infirmary."