Kingston Hospital has promised to consider introducing cheaper parking for cancer patients using the Sir William Rous unit, after criticism from leading charities.

The hospital makes about £500,000 a year from visitors but the Department of Health has recommended hospitals in England offer concessions for people who need repeat visits.

Hedley Williams, 82, from Claygate, estimated he has spent about £200 in parking at Kingston, with 39 visits since being diagnosed with bladder cancer in February last year.

Once his appointment was delayed by a fire alarm, leaving him with a £45 fine.

He said: “I think the charges are extortionate and as far as I know there aren’t any concessions. One woman told me it cost her £21 to park there while her daughter had just had a baby.

“The whole thing was very unpleasant really. Illness is bad enough but the worry caused by getting back to your car in time is quite extraordinary surprisingly.”

He suggested a pay-as-you-leave system like Roehampton and Epsom would relieve a lot of stress for patients.

A Macmillan survey found 85 per cent of the 1,000 people it asked wanted the Government to abolish hospital parking charges for cancer patients.

Hospital parking for cancer patients is free in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales will provide free parking by 2011.

Steve Richards, from cancer charity Macmillan, said: “It is morally wrong people in England are still paying what amounts to a tax on sickness.”

Kate Arnold, director of patient information at Cancer Research UK, said: “It is concerning that people with cancer experience extra costs such as car parking during their treatment.

“Cancer Research UK welcomes any initiative that reduces their financial burden.”

A spokesman for Kingston Hospital said: “We review our car parking charges and concessionary rates annually and will be considering the introduction of concessionary rates for cancer patients at our next review in early 2010.

“There are already special parking arrangements in place for mothers in labour, parents with children in the hospital and relatives of patients on our intensive therapy unit.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “In England, hospital car parking charges are decided locally by individual trusts to cover the cost of running and maintaining a car park.

“All trusts should have exemption and concessionary schemes in place to ensure that patients and carers who visit hospital regularly, such as those affected by cancer, are not disadvantaged. Trusts are responsible for publicising these schemes to their patients.”

What do you think? Tell us at surreycomet.co.uk