A bus service could be introduced to ferry staff between hospitals in a bid to ease parking pressures.

Bosses at Brighton Health Care NHS Trust will decide today whether to pay £130,000 a year to transport staff between their four sites on a minibus.

The issue of car parking has been an on-going problem for the trust for several years as staff and patient numbers have increased.

The introduction of a residents' parking scheme on the streets around the Royal Sussex County Hospital has made the situation worse for staff, who are unable to use the already limited spaces in the hospital grounds.

The trust angered staff when it introduced a £50 fine for cars parked in its grounds without a permit, despite the introduction of the residents' parking scheme.

There are currently 804 parking spaces at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Eastern Road and a further 72 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Dyke Road.

The trust is working with Brighton and Hove City Council to increase car parking capacity at the Royal Sussex to 912 in the next five years.

The council also wants to add 84 spaces to the residents' parking scheme around the Royal Sussex in Kemp Town.

The trust employs about 3,200 workers and more than 1,500 are nursing staff.

It has worked on a number of measures in the past such as creating extra spaces for bikes and setting up car-share schemes among staff.

Lee Soden, director of facilities, said he hoped the half-hourly service would be approved to free up parking spaces for visitors and staff.

He said: "The biggest problem I deal with is parking. It is horrendous.

"We know there just aren't enough spaces for everyone near the hospital and people have to find on-street places."

The 15-seater bus would run between the Royal Sussex County, Brighton General, the Sussex Eye Hospital and Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital during weekdays.

Mr Soden said after if it was established, a review of existing parking permits would be made. More than 250 hospital staff are currently waiting for a parking pass.

He said: "People moving between sites to attend meetings get there and spend ages trying to find somewhere to park. It wastes everyone's time but hopefully the bus service will help.

"The trust has introduced fines to try to clamp down on unauthorised parking at all four sites."

At the children's hospital in Dyke Road, Brighton, staff only have 14 parking spots and another 18 pay-and-display spaces.

Fines of £50 are imposed on anyone without a permit parked in the wrong place during the week from 8am to 6pm.

Hospital visitor Donna Dinan, who lives in Lewes, was appalled nurses who had spent months looking after her disabled son were fined.

She said: "I'm sure they could be distracted from their work if they are worrying about getting a parking ticket. It's hardly a way of attracting nurses into the profession."