NHS bosses apologised last night after doctors and nurses were forced to spend hours queuing for the right to park - in their own hospital.

Staff were left fuming when management decided to issue 400 car parking permits for only 200 spaces.

To make matters worse, staff were told the permits would be handed out on a first come, first served, basis.

The decision led to chaotic scenes as doctors, nurses, consultants and administrative staff started queuing hours before the passes were due to be issued.

NHS staff spent several hours waiting patiently for a permit to park at the new £67m privately-financed hospital in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

But tempers flared when managers - shocked by the lengthy queues - called a halt to the handouts.

Some had cancelled appointments with patients, others had persuaded colleagues to cover shifts while they waited, one nurse had even come in on his day off.

"This is a total farce, a complete waste of NHS time," said one hospital worker who, along with 15 of her colleagues, refused to leave the queue until they had spoken to an executive.

Another member of staff said she worked in the community and needed to be in and out of the hospital to make appointments.

She said: "It is not as though I can leave my car at home - I need it for visits. I have to come back to the hospital, do paperwork then go off again, yet there is no guarantee that I will get a space."

Staff claimed the new hospital had been built with too few parking spaces.

The management says more parking is on the cards - part of the old hospital site is due to be cleared to create extra spaces - but not for some time.

Last night, chief executive from South Durham Health Care NHS Trust John Saxby apologised for the blunder.

He said: "My apologies to all staff and any visitors who have been frustrated and inconvenienced by these arrangements.

"Clearly we did not think these through as properly and fully as we should have. We have therefore cancelled the current arrangements and will reconsider these again with more care and consideration."

People visiting the hospital said they were outraged by the situation.

Eileen Anderson, 66, from Hazeldale, Shildon, who was at the hospital with grand-daughter Katie Roberts, 14, said it was disgusting staff had to queue for the permits.

She said: "I am all for the staff. I think there should be staff only parking.

"They have got to get to work and I don't think they should have to pay extra money for parking.