A HOSPITAL boss has apologised to patients for parking problems at the new hospital.

Jo Cubbon, chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We are experiencing problems with car parking following the opening of the new Royal Blackburn hospital at the weekend and would like to apologise to patients and members of the public who have faced delays.

"These delays have been due to a number of factors including getting everyone used to the new road layout on the site and the new car park barrier system."

The Evening Telegraph has received complaints from visitors about the availability of parking and access at the site.

Yesterday morning traffic was backed up approaching the hospital entrance in Haslingden Road coming from the M65.

Not all car parking areas were open and this was adding to the problem, Mrs Cubbon said.

Unlike before, people have to take a ticket and pay when they leave the hospital.

Bosses were "working to bring additional on-site car parking spaces on line as quickly as possible" and marshals were helping people to park, Mrs Cubbon said.

To help take the load off the car parks, hospital staff were yesterday urged not to ask for parking permits. Employees were told in a memo that "demand for car parking permits is considerably in excess of the spaces we have available."

The memo, from Mrs Cubbon, said: "This is due to the fact that we are not at our full capacity of car parking spaces, as you will note work is being undertaken on the old laundry site and other areas around the trust to provide more car parking.

"Therefore, I am asking if any staff that can use alternative means of getting to work please do and if appropriate to withdraw their permit application."

Yesterday one barrier had to be looked at by maintenance staff and was then left up to allow people out.

Mrs Cubbon also thanked staff for their "patience coming to work and parking".

She said bosses would provide bike lockers and continue a free park and ride from the closed Blackburn Royal Infirmary "in the short term".

She added: "We are also exploring the use of subsidised bus passes should anybody be interested."

The news comes after the Lancashire Evening Telegraph this week revealed the only bus from Hyndburn to the hospital is facing the axe.