The change comes after patients and other hospital visitors complained about not being able to park for short periods for no charge.

The current �2.50 charge for any period up to four hours is being reduced to �1 for the first hour.

A hospital trust spokesman said: "We have listened to people and believe we have put in place a reasonable rate."

Andy Leary, director of finance for the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said it needed to raise �1.1m to cover the costs of providing parking at its four hospitals in Lincolnshire.

Drop-off zone

"The drop-off zone is available for free for anyone who is visiting the hospital for a short time to pick up medication or health aids," he said.

The trust recently increased fees and imposed a �10 long-stay charge.

But one visitor to the car park at Boston's Pilgrim Hospital said: "It should be free to come to the hospital - it is a time when you are most vulnerable."