HOSPITAL bosses have justified scrapping free parking for disabled visitors after being criticised by a union.

Officials from the South Tees Health Branch of Unison said they were “appalled” that the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is planning to bring in car parking charges for disabled visitors, including blue badge holders, from May 1.

Previously blue badge holders have been exempt from car parking charges at the trust’s two main hospitals, The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

A Unison spokesman said: “Blue Badge holders have been exempt from charges for parking due to their medically acknowledged disability. For those affected it will be yet another attack on the disabled community.”

While public parking charges are going up by between 15-17 per cent annual charges for parking permits for staff are going up by 36 per cent.

Unison branch secretary, Andrew Anderson said the price hike “will only serve to add further financial misery upon its own staff, who already in effect subsidise the Trust by having to pay to park when at work”.

Jill Moulton, the South Tees Trust’s director of infrastructure said: “From May 1 2014 car parking charges will increase to contribute towards the development of two new car parks at The James Cook University Hospital which will include 28 new disabled spaces and the building of a dedicated link road.

“The same visitor rates will also apply to blue badge holders – in line with neighbouring hospitals.

“This was a difficult decision, which we discussed in detail with our staffside representatives, but in this current challenging financial climate it is no longer viable for the trust to continue to provide free disabled parking.”

She said disabled drivers who visit regularly can obtain special concession tickets.