Cancer patients are spending up to 63 euro a week on parking charges at hospitals around the country according to the Irish Cancer Society.

The charity is calling on the HSE to make parking free or to significantly reduce fees for cancer patients and their families.

Dublin hospitals are the most expensive for parking in the country with a 4 hour stay costing on €8.86 followed by Munster at €6.70 for 4 hours.

The Society found that a four hour stay in Tallaght Hospital in Dublin costs €10 euro -more than double the price shoppers will pay in the Square Shopping Centre, just two minutes' drive away.

Last year Irish hospitals raised 16 million euro in parking charges and the Cancer Society says the cost is putting an unnecessary strain on cancer patients and their families.

Kim Buckley has this report: