Hospital bosses have pledged to look into whether grace periods can be programmed into its parking ticket machines.

Ted Bates, of The Oaks, Aylesford, took his wife to an outpatient appointment at Maidstone Hospital, which overran. He had spent one hour and two minutes in the car park, but was charged for two hours.

He has written to the hospital asking whether a grace period can be built into the parking machines, making the point that appointments can often by delayed through no fault of the patient.

He said: “I fully recognise that the line has to be drawn somewhere, but surely it would not be unreasonable to allow five or even 10 minutes grace?”

Mr Bates has received a reply from the trust saying the issue will be investigated with the parking machine manufacturers.

A Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokesman added: “Our parking tariffs were agreed by a public and patient forum. We are always keen to hear the views of our patients and visitors and will be looking into Mr Bates’ request.”