One in three NHS hospitals in England have made increased their tax on the sick by putting up parking charges.
Some have also scrapped lower rates for shorter stays, meaning anyone needing to leave the car for just 45 minutes must pay for a full three hours.
This will hit cancer patients undergoing treatment particularly hard as they often need visit two or three times a week.
Out of 209 hospitals providing figures 33 percent increased charges for a three-hour stay; 60 percent made no change and 15 hospitals actually reduced parking charges. Overall charges rose 15 percent from 2014/15 and 2015/16.
Only English hospitals routinely charge for parking. It remains free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Hospitals can raise up to £3 million a year from charges which they say go back in to patient care or the hospital.
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