NURSES face a £300-a-year bill to park their car at Glasgow hospitals - despite plans to slash proposed charges.

NURSES face a £300-a-year bill to park their car at Glasgow hospitals - despite plans to slash proposed charges.

Union leaders say nurses are angry over plans to introduce £25-a-month permits at four major sites in the city.

As revealed in yesterday's Evening Times, the compromise follows a health board review of the charges, being introduced on July 29, following protests from patients, staff and visitors.

Staff earning £10,000 to £30,000 a year can apply for a £25-a-month permit, while those on less than £10,000 will be charged £5 for four weeks.

Officials have also slashed the maximum daily charge from £12 to £7 and cut short stay fees at Yorkhill, Western, Gartnavel and the Victoria.

But Cathy Miller, Unison's convener of regional services, said: "We appreciate the health board has made a massive gesture by reviewing the charges but it won't be enough.

"Nurses' pay will still be devalued and £25 a month is unacceptable.

"Plenty of staff work twilight shifts and finish at 2am. They depend on a car to get safely home at night and will be charged £300 a year. The nurses won't be satisfied until this is looked at again."

The health board says the number of patients and visitors qualifying for free parking has been widened "significantly" and 30% should qualify.

Tom Divers, chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "We must all remember why car parking charges are being introduced to our busiest hospital sites.

"Some of our sites are log-jammed with commuters taking advantage of free hospital parking, resulting in patients and visitors, especially the disabled, struggling to find spaces.

"We have significantly reduced the charges for low earners."