Dorset’s two main hospitals made nearly £1.5 million out of car parking charges last year, figures released in response to a Freedom of Information request have revealed.

Poole Hospital took £865,859, of which £478,442 came from visitors and £387,417 from staff.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital took £579,188 and Christchurch Hospital £48,674.

All the money came from visitors, as the trust that runs the hospitals does not charge staff with permits to park on site, but that will change when the new multi-storey car park is completed later this year.

Southampton General Hospital, home of several regional services, was one of three trusts in the country to make more than £2m from car parking – £1.56 million from visitors and more than £500,000 from staff.

The Liberal Democrats obtained the figures, which the party’s Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb described as “staggering”.

He said: “Many hospitals are still not offering real discounts to those with chronic illnesses and are effectively operating a tax on the sick.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Income from car parking is used to support the infrastructure of the trust’s car parks, grounds and security. No profit is made.

“We have one of the lowest charges in the south, which ensures money is not taken away from patient services for the upkeep of these facilities.”

Disabled badge holders – who sometimes account for half the vehicles in the car parks – can park free.

A spokesperson for Poole Hospital said it makes no profit from parking and has to keep charges in line with council car parks so shoppers and visitors do not take up the spaces.

“The income generated covers costs such as maintenance, staffing and security. If we didn’t charge, these costs would have to be funded from elsewhere, and the cost of running the car park would take money away from patient care,” she explained.

Poole offers reduced parking rates to regular patients and visitors.