PARKING charges at Southend Hospital raked in more than £1.2million last year.

Figures show the hospital has been receiving more and more cash from its parking spaces for the three years up to 2012.

In 2009-10 it raised £707,400 and in 2010-11 it made £880,900.

Ric Morgan, independent councillor for Prittlewell, lives near to the hospital.

He said: “Parking in hospitals is free in Wales and Scotland and if parking in hospitals were free in England it would solvealot of problems for residents.

“The reason we had to put in a parking management scheme around the hospital is because people drive up, think ‘no thanks’ then go and park outside.

Charging for hospital parking is like putting a tax on sick people.”

Colin Cadwallader, director of estates and facilities at the hospital, said: “Our 900-space multistorey car park cost £7million and opened in 2009.

“Maintenance covers our entire transport and parking provision, including roads and pathways.

Our premises are heavily used and we are about to spend about £500,000 on resurfacing work.”