HEALTH service bosses are ripping off staff by forcing them to pay to park their cars, Unite revealed yesterday.

Even essential car users such as health visitors are being made to cough up “extortionate” charges.

Unite highlighted the case of south Tyneside, where some workers will be charged £1.20 an hour or £12 a month from July 1 to park.

Health visitors, school nurses and community matrons are among 60 staff to be charged.

Unite regional officer Martin Wright said: “What the South Tyneside management is doing is immoral — the charges are extortionate.

“It is recycling NHS money from staff to boost the trust’s income, helping to offset deficits.

“There are very few other public servants who have to pay for the privilege of parking at work.

“There would be an outcry if teachers had to pay to park at school or police officers at police stations.”