Parking problems at York District Hospital which leave people queuing as they try to make appointments have been labelled an embarrassment by the chairman of the city's health trust.

Professor Alan Maynard told the York Health Trust's annual meeting: "We have still got a problem of car parking, that I find a continual embarrassment - we all do - that people have to queue up outside the district hospital in the afternoon for appointments."

Trust deputy chief executive George Wood said it was one of a small number of organisations working with City of York Council on the city's transport and travel plan - discussions which would be completed by the end of the year.

Afterwards he told the Evening Press a planning application to increase spaces with a decked parking area was still with the council, but the trust had agreed that would not be determined until the travel plan issues were resolved.

As part of that they had investigated using a range of options, including improved bus services and park and ride, staff car sharing, and improved facilities for cyclists to solve the problems.

He added: "We have got patients coming from a wider area than before, they are coming in their increasing numbers, and the difficulties they face at the moment with parking can be a significant cause of stress, when they come to the site, try to park, and then arrive at appointments late."