CAR parking charges are to be increased at a hospital where bosses admit finding a space to park is a nightmare.

Officials at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital are concerned at the numbers of patients missing appointments because they are unable to find a parking space and drive off stressed and frustrated.

There will be a new charge of £2.10 for 24-hour parking.

Permits for patients and visitors who regularly attend the hospital are £12.60 for three months, £24.50 for six months and £49 for the year. But the hospital promises that improvements to car parking are on the way.

Director of planning Jill Moulton said: "We have had a number of patients saying they drove around looking for a space and left the hospital without getting to their appointment because they couldn't find one. This is of great concern to us and, again, we hope that changing the car park will make access to parking much more convenient for patients.

"I know it can also be equally frustrating for staff so the main car park and overflow will be joined with two entrances and exits. We are continually looking at ways to improve parking and are in early discussions about also making long-term improvements.''

She said as part of the new hospital contract there was an obligation to review car parking charges and these were the first increases in four years and comparable to what other local and regional hospitals charge.

"The decision to increase charges is never an easy or popular choice, particularly as car parking is difficult at times for patients and staff," Mrs Moulton said.

"Health facilities and hospitals in particular are facing severe problems associated with car travel and we have been concerned about car parking for some time.

"However, we are working to address these concerns including commissioning a traffic survey which confirmed the shortfall in spaces."

Work is under way to switch a 186-space staff car park over to patients next to the heart unit, hopefully enabling them to make their appointment on time.

Staff charges are also being increased and work will begin on improving a temporary gravel car park at the hospital, at the end of April, taking the number of spaces from 500 to 725.