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Nearly half of hospitals have hiked car parking charges despite being urged to cut the fees.

The new research comes as MPs will push for a vote this week to ban hospital parking charges in England.

In a boost for the Mirror’s campaign, a cross-party group of MPs led by Robert Halfon will use a Commons debate this Thursday to call on the Government end the tax on sickness once and for all.

The motion is backed by leading charities, motoring organisations and Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and DUP MPs.

Mr Halfon, the Tory MP for Harlow, will use the debate to highlight how hospitals are continuing to rake in millions of pounds from charging for parking despite Government guidance issued in 2014 calling for the fees to be cut.

He will tell MPs that since then 47% of hospitals have increased their hourly parking charges.

(Image: PA)

Mr Halfon says almost half on hospitals in England offer no concessions for disabled drivers and 60% are still charging cancer patients to park.

Mr Halfon said: “Since 2013, I have been campaigning hard to scrap hospital car parking charges. These parking fees are a stealth tax on patients, on the vulnerable (including the the elderly and disabled), on visitors, and on staff.

“We say that he NHS is free, yet people with cars seem to have to pay.”

The motion for debate says: “That this House calls on the Government to undertake a consultation to identify the most efficient means of abolishing car parking charges at NHS hospitals in England for patients, staff and visitors and to provide the timescale for its implementation.”

It is being backed by Labour’s Frank Field and Emma Hardy, Lib Dem Sir Edward Davey, Conservatives Sir Mike Penning, Lucy Allan and Martin Vickers and the DUP’s Jim Shannon.

“We hope that if this motion is passed, the Health Secretary will take urgent action to end this injustice once and for all,” Mr Halfon added.

A recent Mirror poll found seven in ten people back our call to ban hospital car parking charges.

Of 1,000 people surveyed by ComRes ,71% said they would support banning hospital car parking charges

Clare Laxton of CLIC Sargent charity said: “We know the burden paying for hospital car parking, day in day out, can place on young people with cancer and their families.

“A cancer diagnosis can cost young people and their families on average £600 per month in additional expenses.

“We support Robert in calling Government to end unfair hospital parking charges once and for all and ease the financial burden on families of young cancer patients.”

MacMillan Cancer Support added: “The core principle of the NHS is to provide free healthcare for all at the point of access. But sadly some cancer patients in England are paying extortionate hospital car parking charges in order to access treatment for a life-threatening illness.

“Macmillan therefore supports Robert Halfon MP’s hospital car parking charges campaign.”