Disabled drivers are to be charged for parking at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for the first time.

Board members at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust today approved the charges in a new parking policy.

Until now disabled people have had free parking at the Royal Sussex while at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath they had to pay.

The new policy introduces trust-wide charges for all public parking, including in disabled areas.

Prices are 90p for the first hour, £1.30 for three hours and up to £6.40 for six to 12 hours.

Lee Soden, the trust's director of facilities, told the board the decision to include disabled drivers in the charging policy had been made after intensive discussions.

He said: "It is not a financial issue. Disabled parking spaces account for eight per cent of spaces at Brighton and five per cent at the Princess Royal.

"It came down to a choice of whether disabled people should be treated the same as everyone else or not charged at all."

The new charging policy is expected to start later this year.

The plans have still caused some concerns among the disabled community in Brighton and Hove.

Kathy Goddon, of Access in Brighton, said it could be difficult for some people who had to visit the hospital several times a week and might find it difficult to manage the costs.

Other proposals in the policy including introducing a trust-wide staff permit scheme costing £12 a year and extending free coach links for staff between hospital sites.

Negotiations are also continuing to set up a park and ride scheme at Brighton Racecourse for staff.