He said: "We think the price of a car park should be the same for everyone. If you're buying a can of Coke, you don't have someone on a lower salary paying 60p, and someone on a higher salary paying There's no difference in the parking space, so everyone should pay the same.



"The vast majority of employees will end up paying more under this system. If NHS employees get a one per cent pay rise next year, that will be mostly swallowed up by this parking increase.



"Some staff have to arrive at work 30 minutes early just so they can find a parking space."



Julia Ellis, Royal north face outlets College of Midwives' leader at the hospital, said: "Staff will be far more amenable to an increase in the parking tariff if there is some improvement in the parking first.



"We're being asked to pay Marks and Spencer's prices for Lidl quality."



Royal College of Nursing senior steward Chris Bourne, left, added: "Nurses have been hit by a threeyear pay freeze, higher pension contributions and a hike in our registration fees now they face this rise in parking charges.



"Many staff would not mind paying if they could guarantee a space. But their working day is extended eshoppingoutlets.com either by using the park and ride at the infirmary or having to hunt round for an empty bay."



The hospital is to increase its parking charges for the first time in four years.



Patients and visitors, who currently pay to park for four hours, will now pay Blue badge holders will be charged to park for the first time.



Hospital spokesman Andrew Ashcroft said: "The parking fees at the University Hospital are still significantly lower than many other trusts nationwide."



5 Principles for fair hospital car parking as outlined by Fair For all Not free For Allpolicy of the NHS confederation are:1. Have a travel plan for users of all types of transport.2. Control parking fairly, with concessions for those whose health conditions or work commitments mean they have to park frequently or at antisocial hours.3. Show car park and transport costs and how charges are invested.4. Think about the environment and how transport can reduce the NHS's impact.5. Be open and involve patients and the publicUniversity Hospital of North Staffordshire have not followed 2, 3 and 5. when announcing the new increase in car parking charges at the hospital. StokeonTrent is not London. HAS HE EVER BEEN TO SCOTLAND OR WALES?NHS Hospitals in Wales and in Scotland provide free car parking for patients. There are no signs in the hospital car parks, which inform patients of this facility. Many Cancer patients have been paying for parking at the hospital. This money can then be used to maintain the car parks.