Hikes have angered former councillor and health activist Phil Sealey

Health chiefs have been slammed for hiking parking charges for a three-hour stay at Northwick Park Hospital by 83 per cent.

The cost of parking on the site in Watford Road, Sudbury, has surged from �3 to �5.50 since 2009.

According to a report released by data management company SSentif, the increase is the highest in the country.

The news has angered a former councillor who is currently the chairman of Brent race health and social care forum and a member of Brent health and social care partnership board.

Phil Sealey, a community worker who once represented the now defunct Church End ward in Willesden, branded it ‘morally wrong’.

He said: “I think it’s outrageous and only seems to be a profit making scheme.

“The danger is that people will rely on public transport to avoid the charges, which may make them late for appointments.”

Cllr Zaffar Van Kalwala, Stonebridge councillor, branded the scheme ‘outrageous’.

He added: “The Government needs to set guidelines about what is and isn’t acceptable.”

A spokesman for the trust said they ‘understood’ increases would be unpopular but that they were justified due to resources for front line services being under pressure.

He added: “We appreciate this might be expensive for patients who have to attend hospital regularly, but we offer concessions for those purposes.”