CAR parking charges at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital have been defended after a Wellington woman paid £102 to visit her critically ill mother.

Ann Carpenter’s bill would have totalled £312 had the hospital not heavily discounted the charges during the last three weeks of her mother’s hospital treatment.

Sixty-year-old Peggy Carpenter, of Brendon Road, Wellington, collapsed at home with emphysema in March and spent three weeks in intensive care.

Mark Formosa, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Taunton, said: “It is scandalous that in effect a sick tax is being levied on people who suffer the misfortune of family members becoming hospitalised.

“The level of car parking charges at Musgrove Park Hospital has been far too high for far too long.

“While I understand that QPark need to make a return on their investment in building the multi-storey car park at Musgrove, I see no reason why the other two car parks should carry the same punitive level of parking charges.”

A spokesman for Musgrove said: “Availability of parking was historically a problem.

“In 2006 after a competitive tendering process the Trust entered into a partnership with QPark.

“Since then they have invested almost £10m. There are now rarely difficulties in finding general spaces any time of the day.

“Musgrove Park has a below average tariff when compared to acute trusts in the South-West.

“In addition the hospital has specified in the 25 year contract that prices cannot increase by more than the rate of price inflation (RPI) plus 1% each year.

“In 2009 this means that the overall increase is 1.01% and the two lower price bands will remain unchanged.”