I SEE from a recent article in the Shuttle that I am not alone in being confused by your car parking charges at the hospital.

The sign board is very misleading (and the cynic may think deliberately so) since it does not tell the whole truth.

The board tells us that the charge is £2.50 for the first two hours and also states that the first 30 minutes are free. So when I put £2.50 in the machine at say 9am I would expect to receive a ticket allowing parking until 11.30am. But no - I get one showing 11am. The free 30 minutes is no longer mentioned. Why is this?

Before I am told that this only applies to short stay visits please tell me how I can be sure that I will not be delayed beyond the 30 minutes, and will the consultant or nurse giving me treatment, wait while I nip out after 25 minutes to feed the meter. I don't think so.

If charging for parking at the hospital is a legitimate charge on the taxpayer which is another question, the only fair and moral system is that which is in use at Worcester, Derby and other places, i.e. pay on leaving.

A LYNCH Severnside South Bewdley