INCENSED patients have blasted Halton Hospital for introducing charges for disabled parking.

Stroke victim Bob Bryant only discovered payments were being imposed for blue badge holders this week when he turned up for a physiotherapy appointment.

Wheelchair bound stroke victim Mr Bryant, aged 66, of Claremont Drive, said: “Why are they hitting the most vulnerable, the elderly and disabled who need to go to the hospital for treatment?

“Many of these patients have to attend on a regular basis, often several times a week.

“I think this is yet another money making move.

"There has been no consultation. It’s appalling.”

Crusading health champion Mr Bryant represented patients on various hospital boards and founded the Let’s Go Stroke Club.

The hospital board voted for the charges following the introduction of automatic number plate recognition at Halton and Warrington hospitals.

Chairman of the board Allan Massey said: “The purpose of the blue badge is to allow access, for example, if they couldn't walk from the back end of the trust to the front.

"It enables disabled people to gain access, that’s what it’s there for, and like the rest of the population there’s still a parking charge.

“Everybody has to park somewhere and pay for that privilege.”

The hospital says there is no way of excluding blue badge holders with the new technology.

George Creswell, associate director, estates and facilities at the hospitals, said: “We’re not increasing the charges but unfortunately, because of the nature of the system, all patients and visitors need to pay.

“This does include blue badge holders and the trust board looked at all the evidence and what other hospitals do before making a decision on that.

“Anyone who is coming to us for regular care can talk to us and we can discuss the concessions available which reduce parking to around £1 per visit which is one of the lowest hospital tariffs in the north west.”