It was announced this week that hospital visitors are to be given free parking in Scotland.

But the sick and their visitors in England will still have to fork out tens of millions of pounds a year.

It's an inequality which has enraged NHS campaigners.

Today Mike Robson, executive director of finance and corporate governance with South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, admitted that in an "ideal world" the charges would be scrapped.

But he said all funds raised from charges were poured back into creating better car parking facilities and security at the Harton Lane hospital, in South Shields.

He added: "We look at this issue all the time, but we have no immediate plans to withdraw charges.

"There have been massive improvements to car parking and security on site in recent years and there are plans to expand car parking spaces further because of demand.

"We have had very few break-ins or other incidents because of the success of those improvements.

"We have to recover the costs of the work carried out, but what we do try to do is relieve the burden of car parking costs for long-term patients and their families."

At the present time it costs visitors £1.10 to park at the hospital for up to one hour.

Mike Summers, vice-chairman of the Patients' Association, said the system was penalising NHS users in England.

He said: "How can we call it a National Health Service when your treatment depends on where you live?

"What's really offensive is that these fees are being charged against ill people who are often undergoing serious treatment.

"They may have no idea how long they are going to be at the hospital, and the last thing they need is the extra stress."