A HEALTH boss has defended a rise in car park charges at a hospital that has parking problems.
Parking fees for patients and visitors to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital will go up by 10p next month.
Charges were introduced to pay for security to combat car thefts and vandalism.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust said it was inappropriate to use NHS funds meant for the care and treatment of patients.
The new charge of £2.20 for 24 hours is comparable, said the trust, to other local and regional hospital charges.
Neil Permain, the trust's director of operational services, said: "This small increase is necessary to keep pace with the costs of providing the on-going security and maintenance of the car parks.
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