Hospitals in the county raised almost £3 million last year in Parking charges paid by patients and visitors.

The news led to health chiefs facing claims yesterday they were targeting patients and visitors to help wipe out soaring debts, a practice patient care groups described as "morally wrong".

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that, of the six NHS trusts in the county, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals raised the most from its car parks in 2004/05 with a total of £649,733.

The Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which took £46,240 from its car park at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, raised the least.

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust amassed £648,000 and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust generating £527,378 from car park tariffs.

The Royal West Sussex NHS Trust charged its patients and visitors £520,000 while Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust raised £446,849.

Chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Relief Peter Cardy said: "Raising revenue by forcing cancer patients to pay for hospital car parking is morally wrong. It is shameful the sickest and most vulnerable have to pay the most."

Officials at the Department of Health said it was for hospital bosses to decide what to charge.

Spokesmen for the Royal West Sussex and the East Sussex Hospitals NHS trusts said money raised from car parking was spent on patient care and improving facilities.

Peter Dives, director of facilities at Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust, said some of the revenue was used to cover the general maintenance of the car park but more than three quarters went on patient care.

A spokeswoman for Worthing and Southlands said half the profit was funnelled directly into patient care while the other half went to car park operators Legion Car Parking.

No other Sussex hospital trusts were available for comment.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals
- Hospitals:

Hurstwood Park, Haywards Heath;

Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton;

Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath;

Sussex Eye Hospital, Brighton;

Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, Brighton.

- Total income from car parks 2004-2005: £446,849.

- Tariffs:

1-3 hours £1.50;

3-4 hours £2;

4-5 hours £2.50;

5-6 hours £3;

6-12 hours £6.80;

12-24 hours £12;

every 24 hours thereafter £12.

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare
- Hospitals:

Crawley Hospital;

East Surrey Hospital, Redhill.

- Total income from car parks 2004-2005: £527,378.

- Tariffs:

Up to 15 minutes no charge;

up to six hours £2;

six hours and over £10 per day.

Royal West Sussex
- Hospitals:

St Richard's Hospital, Chichester.

Total income from car parks 2004-2005: £520,000.

- Tariffs:

Up to 1 hour £1;

1-2 hours £1.50;

2-3 hours £2;

3-4 hours £2.50;

over 4 hours £3.

East Sussex Hospitals
- Hospitals:

Conquest Hospital, St Leonards;

Eastbourne District General Hospital.

- Total income from car parks 2004-2005: £648,000.

- Tariffs:

£1.70 for 3 hours or £3.40 per day Queen Victoria Hosital NHS Foundation Trust
- Hospital:

Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead.

- Total income from car parks 2004-2005: £46,240.

- Tariffs:

£1.50 for 3 hours and £2 for up to 10 hours.

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals
- Hospitals:

Worthing Hospital, Worthing;

Southlands Hospital, Shoreham.

- Total income from car parks 2004-2005: £649,733 - Tariffs:

Worthing: Drop-off (up to 20 minutes) free.

Up to 1 hour £1.10;

up to 2 hours £1. 80;

up to 3 hours £2.50;

up to 4 hours £3.20;

up to 5 hours £4;

5-12 hours £5.20;

night rate (8pm-8am) £1.50;

motorcycles £1.50;

weekly season ticket (valid for even days) £16;

lost ticket £10.

Southlands:

Up to 2 hours £1;

up to 4 hours £2;

all day £3.