ABUSERS of hospital car parks could be caught on camera as plans to install new technology around the site have been approved.

NHS bosses have given the green light to introduce automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) at Royal Bolton Hospital.

They hope that the move will reduce “car park abuse” and ensure that the hospital’s 2,565 parking bays are available for “genuine” site users.

Alan Stuttard, chair of the finance and investment, told the board of directors at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust that ANPR is now used by most hospitals and town centres.

He said: “The committee were happy to approve the introduction of ANPR. The issues will come about how we actually operate it. We have no issues with the principle of the introduction of ANPR. It’s common in organisations now.”

The health trust has now been granted planning permission to install cameras, cables and signs.

The site access and exit arrangements would not change as a result of the new system.