PATIENTS and visitors to James Cook University Hospital are being asked to give their views on its parking charges.

Drivers pay £2 for up to two hours and £3 for up to three hours using a pay on foot system.

New long-stay parking fees were introduced last month which will see visitors and patients charged up to 10 for a stay of up to 24 hours.

Special discounted weekly and monthly permits are also available.

A public consultation about the fees is part of an investigation by Middlesbrough Councils Health Scrutiny Panel and follows the latest increase in charges at the hospital.

The James Cook University Hospital is a Private Finance Initiative hospital which means that parking is the responsibility of Endeavour, South Tees Hospitals NHS Trusts private sector partner.

Councillor Eddie Dryden, who chairs the Health Scrutiny Panel, said: "We are keen to find out whether the current system of parking charges at the hospital is impacting on peoples access to health services.

"It's not just those receiving treatment who are affected, but also the people who visit them, and there is evidence that receiving visitors while in hospital can aid recovery."

He added: "It's important to ensure that the people setting these charges and deciding where the money goes are accountable to those who pay the fees."

Any members of the public who would like their views taken into consideration are asked to contact Scrutiny Support Officer Jon Ord at jon_ord@middlesbrough.gov.uk or telephone 01642-729706.