A hospital is so deep in debt that it is selling off its car parking.
West Suffolk Hospital, which has fallen almost £12 million in the red, has sold the management of its car park to a private company for almost £4 million.
Chris Bown, its chief executive, said yesterday: "The seven-year licensing arrangement with Vinci Park will mean that the trust will continue to receive an income stream from car parking but this will be received in a single payment in excess of £3.8 million."
The sell-off comes at a time when 220 staff at the hospital in Bury St Edmunds face losing their jobs, 10 per cent of beds could be cut and two surgical theatres could close as health chiefs tackle debts.
Last year the trust earned £661,523 from parking charges. Patients and visitors are charged £10.20 to park at the hospital for 24 hours while staff pay 50p a day
