HAMPSHIRE'S newest hospital opened its doors to the public amid concerns some staff won't get a parking space.

The £36m state-of-the-art Lymington New Forest Hospital has 205 parking spaces but only 85 are for the 400 staff that work there.

Fears have also been raised that the 120 payable spaces for patients and visitors will be inadequate.

Bobby Noyes, chairman of the Southampton health branch of Unison, said parking restrictions are being considered for staff living within two miles of the hospital.

She said: "There is parking for practically nobody whatsoever. The whole thing has been an absolute disaster from beginning to end. The parking is the icing on the cake.

She added: "Staff have no guarantee of parking spaces. We have enough problems with parking at existing hospitals but to build a new one with such little parking is ludicrous."

New Forest District Council's Tory planning boss Cllr Jeremy Heron said planning permission was granted for the number of spaces requested by Hampshire NHS Primary Care Trust. He said the trust had since come back and asked about the possibility of more spaces.

A spokesman for the PCT said staff reported patients were treated quickly yesterday morning with a high turnover of cars in the car park and plenty of spaces available.

"We have always recognised that a shortage of spaces and the cost of parking would be a concern to patients and staff alike.

"We have discussed and agreed a car parking policy with trade unions but have currently not introduced any charges for staff."

Meanwhile Hampshire County Council has yet to complete a shared pedestrian and cycle route to the new six-ward hospital, which is on the outskirts of town.

The 107-bed hospital, billed as a "one-stop shop'' was built on part of the old Ampress site at Wellworthy Road as a private finance initiative.

It offers a wide range of specialist outpatient clinics, a treatment centre, minor injuries unit, as well as two theatres and a bigger radiology department.

It is set to become the first in the country to have all its services run by a private operator, Partnership Health Group, from July in a move to cut waiting times.