This is how much car parking costs at NHS hospitals in Tyne and Wear

New research from LittleLoans has looked into how much it costs to park for both one hour and two hours in NHS car parks at more than 350 hospitals in the UK.

According to research, it is estimated that the NHS takes in around £272 million a year in car parking charges. Most hospitals in England and the rest of the UK pay for car parking, but the exact charge is set by the individual NHS trusts meaning that while some are free, others can charge as much as £4 an hour.

Tyne and Wear has no free car parks, and patients and visitors can pay up to £3 for two hours worth of parking .

This is how much people are paying for two hours of parking at individual hospitals:

Sunderland

Sunderland Eye Infirmary – £3.00

Sunderland Royal Hospital – £3.00

Monkwearmouth Hospital – £1.50

South Shields

South Tyneside District Hospital – £3.00

Gateshead

Queen Elizabeth Hospital – £2.50

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle General Hospital – £2.40

Royal Victoria Infirmary – £2.40

Freeman Hospital – £2.20

St Nicholas Hospital – £1.50

North Shields

North Tyneside General Hospital – £2.40

The most expensive NHS car park in the UK is in London, at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital which costs £7 to park for only two hours.

Just 46 of all the 359 hospitals analysed offer free parking.