AN MP has condemned a new hospital parking regime after patients were hit with fines of up to £70.

The parking scheme installed at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton is operated by private company ParkingEye and uses automatic number plate recognition.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham expressed concern that the contract relied on ParkingEye making money from penalty fines.

He said: "A number of constituents have contacted me to express their anger that, without any warning, they have received fines of £70 after trips to North Tees Hospital - including one person on an emergency visit.

"I am extremely concerned that this company is profiteering at the expense of some of the most vulnerable people in our community."

Pensioners Edwin and Ruth Rowntree, from Wolviston Village, are still waiting for a refund after paying a £40 fine for parking in a disabled bay which had no restrictions on their previous visits.

Mr Rowntree said he did not see any signs, had no idea it had changed to 20 minutes' waiting time and received a £70 fine - £40 if paid within 14 days.

He appealed the fine on the grounds his consultant was running 40 minutes late with appointments but the appeal was rejected. Later hospital management agreed to refund the £40 fine - but he is still waiting for the money.

He said: "The reason the initial appeal was rejected was because only emergencies, end of life circumstances and in the first three months for cancer patients could have successful appeals. This seemed very callous to us. What about grieving relatives after a relative's death? Will they get a £70 fine?"

They said even staff had been hit with parking fines.

Mr Cunningham said he has been told by hospital management that ParkingEye's fee for running the service is dependent on income from penalty payments - a move that goes against Government recommendations.

Peter Mitchell, Associate director of estates and facilities at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said people were still getting used to the new scheme, which had only been in place since August.

“People will only receive a parking charge notice if they are parked inappropriately or if they are in breach of the terms and conditions of the car park such as non-payments," he said.

“You can find out more at www.nth.nhs.uk.”