Great Western Hospital car park 'teething problems'

Managers at Swindon's Great Western Hospital have admitted they are experiencing "teething problems" with their new car-parking arrangements.

A pay-on-exit system was brought in last Monday, replacing the old pay-and-display arrangements.

A hospital spokesman said there had been a glitch with the machinery which takes the payments and raises barriers last Tuesday.

He added that the new system would be reviewed after three months.

Some users told the BBC the machines were saying the tickets were invalid and advising then to "cont office".

But, they claimed, there was no explanation of what the message meant or how to deal with the problem.

The £300,000 scheme, which is designed to alleviate parking difficulties on site between 09:00 and 16:00 each day, includes an extra 50 parking spaces.

Under the measures staff parking has increased from £5 a month to £1 a day, which the hospital said was aimed at promoting car sharing and the use of public transport.

Patients who need repeated treatment are charged a concessionary rate of £1 a visit rather than being charged per hour.