Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust raised more cash from car parking charges than any other hospital trust in London last year.

More than £1.2 million was paid to the NHS trust, which manages the two hospitals, between April 2005 and March 2006 and charges a flat rate of £4 per day for visitors, regardless of length of stay.

The trust, which has a deficit of £9.4m, has 720 public pay and display car parking spaces and 1,167 staff spaces.

Staff parking charges vary depending on salary, but range from £5 to £20 per month. It increased its daily charge from £3 in April of this year.

A trust spokesman said it had many more spaces than other trusts, given its location.

He said: "We have got a large amount of spaces and we are one of the cheaper trusts to park at.

"Because we are an outer London trust, more people drive to us because they know they can park there."

The Royal Free hospital - which is a short walk away from Belsize Park Tube station - raised £374,698, despite charging £3 per hour for patients and visitors, as well as staff.

It has 159 public pay and display car parking spaces and 257 staff parking spaces and offers a reduced rate of £3 per day for certain patients or visitors.

Alex Nunes, chairman of Barnet Hospital's Patient and Public Involvement forum, said he thought the charges were unfair.

"It's not conducive for people visiting the hospitals.

"But they have always been quite frank and said they use it as part of their income and charge a fraction of what other trusts charge. I think it's very bad that the Government has forced trusts to be in that position to maintain healthcare," said.