Calls for free car parking at NHS hospitals in England have been slammed by health and transport experts.

Nursing and patient groups are campaigning for free hospital parking, but the Transport & Health Study Group warned that such a move would be environmentally irresponsible and undermine NHS efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

Dr Stephen Watkins, chair of THSG, said: ‘Hospitals are big enough generators of traffic for a public transport solution to be feasible as a way of travelling to them. Free parking would scupper efforts to reduce the NHS carbon footprint from transport, and undermine efforts to get staff physically active.’

But a spokesman for the Patients Association charity said: ‘This is a tax on the ill and those who may be on benefits. The Welsh and the Scottish’s health services have paved the way. It is a pity England is not following in their footsteps.’