Doctors and nurses living close to the hospital where they work are to be given the chance to apply for a parking permit.

A new parking policy drawn up by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust originally said staff living within a mile of Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, would not be eligible.

Following concerns raised by workers, hospital bosses have agreed that staff within the one-mile radius, who have extenuating circumstances, can now apply.

This could include those who work late shifts or nights regularly or have no bus route close to their home.

There is no guarantee a place will be given but it means people will have more of a chance of getting one of the £12-a-year places.

The main worries from staff were the problems of getting a bus to and from the hospital late at night or first thing in the morning.

They said people could not afford to keep on paying for taxis and walking home in the winter would be difficult.

The new permit system being brought in at the Princess Royal has sparked controversy because it means, for the first time, staff are being charged to park where they work.

The trust was formed just over a year ago following the merger of Mid Sussex and Brighton Health Care trusts.

Bosses decided to shake up the car parking policies to create one trust-wide scheme.