STAFF, patients and visitors paid out more than £1.15 million to park at two hospitals in just 12 months.

The 2008/09 total of £1.156m compares to the £761,960 collected in the previous financial year at Crewe's Leighton Hospital, pictured below.

NHS officials credited the increase on the introduction of fees at Northwich's Victoria Infirmary as well.

But bosses at Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust, which runs the Crewe and Northwich sites, say the money is being ploughed back in to security in existing and new car parks.

Improvements include resurfacing work, external lighting, new walkways, CCTV coverage and security staff.

Any leftover cash is spent on patient care.

Figures for Leighton also reveal £1,878 was received in parking fines in 2008/09, compared with £2,293 in 2007/08.

A trust spokesman said: "Issuing fines is an absolute last resort and only done after a number of warnings have been issued to motorists parking outside marked bays."

Officials have ruled out bringing in a private company to run parking at Leighton.

The spokesman added: "We believe keeping the service 'in house' allows for increased flexibility.

"Patrol staff work to the same high standards expected of all staff at our hospitals and are able to adapt to the changing demands on their services."

At Stafford Hospital, Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust also manages its car parking service.

It collected £238,317 from its car parks in 2008/09, and £254,186 the year before.

But the trust does not fine motorists. Nine car park and security staff are employed at sites in Stafford and Cannock. Any leftover cash goes back into patient care.

A spokesman said: "We don't believe issuing fines is the best way to deal with inappropriate parking. We try to deal with people directly."

The system won the support of Keep Our NHS Public North Staffs member Ken Lownds.

He said: "The attendants at Stafford have helped me in the past. They are extremely supportive and helpful with people who need to park."