Nurses are expected to react angrily to plans to increase parking charges at Oxford's major hospitals.

Royal College of Nursing officials said many of their members would be forced to pay the increased fees because using their cars was the only way they could get to work.

The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust wants to raise staff parking permit prices at the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals, Headington, to about 0.4 per cent of basic pay, instead of the flat rate of £30 per year.

As a result, some workers will be charged more than double the old fee, while top earners will have to shell out £360 a year.

Managers said increasing permit charges would reduce the annual £410,000 running costs for staff parking and reduce traffic, while encouraging people to come in by bus.

Debbie Pearman, RCN convenor for the ORH, said: "A lot of nurses will have no choice but to pay these fees.

"There are people who are not on a bus route who have to use their cars.

"Many are already paying for child care, and pay a high cost for petrol because they live elsewhere in the county. The trust should be looking after us as an investment, and not see us as a cost."

Managers have already banned many staff commuting to work by car, in preparation for an influx of workers joining the two sites when the Radcliffe Infirmary closes in 2007.

Car parking permits are only available to workers unable to get to work by public transport within a reasonable time, who live too far away, or who need their cars for work.

Anyone earning between £13,000-£19,999, including newly-qualified and some staff nurses, will be charged £80, and those earning £20,000-£29,999, including staff nurses, sisters and head nurses, would pay £120.

Low earners, on £13,000 a year or less, would get free parking, and there would be a capped maximum charge of £360 for staff receiving £90,000 or more.

ORH estates director Ian Humphries said despite 30 per cent discounts for bus tickets, the existing arrangements were still stacked in favour of motorists, who paid pennies to park every day compared with a £1.50 park-and-ride ticket.

He said parking spaces cost £2,500 to create, and £156 a year to run for each of the 2,630 allotted to staff. The permit increases -- which are in line with charges at other UK hospitals -- would raise £320,000-£350,000 a year, compared to £120,000 at the moment.

The ORH is consulting staff about the proposals until the end of January.

Lawyers have said a Headington pub which charges private hospital staff to use its car park is not breaking the law.

Councillors have criticised the White Horse in London Road for allowing workers from the nearby Manor Hospital to leave their cars there for £20 a week.

Although Oxford City Council suggested that using the pub car park for commercial use could be illegal, solicitors have now said no planning laws have been broken.

Councillors want to meet managers at the Manor Hospital to encourage them to dissuade their staff from commuting by car to cut congestion.

Neither Greene King, owners of the White Horse, nor the Manor Hospital, were available to comment.