The announcement follows recommendations by the review group set up to look at the guidance governing car parking charges that maximum charges for hospital car parking should be introduced when other measures to manage car parking pressures were unsuccessful. 

New guidance, which will also cover the criteria to be used for allocating staff permits, will be issued to NHS Boards early in the New Year. 

Announcing the maximum charges Sturgeon said that believes the £3 cap strikes the right balance between the pressures faced by Boards and ensuring patients and staff are treated fairly.  

She said: "The Review Group has found that the cost of car parking can be too high for staff on lower wages, for patients and for visitors and that a maximum charge should be set - but that further work is needed on what that maximum charge should be. 

"That work will be done, but in order to provide protection against unnecessary or excessive charges in the meantime, I have decided to act now to introduce a cap of £3 a day. 

"I also agree with the review group that car parking charges should be a last resort, introduced only when other measures to manage parking pressures have failed. In other words, the presumption is that car parking should be provided free - as indeed it already is at the vast majority of Scottish hospitals. 

"However, the review group recognised - as I do - that charges are necessary in some circumstances. In these cases, it is important that patients and staff are treated fairly and do not face excessive charges. 

"I believe that a £3 a day cap strikes the right balance between the pressures faced by Boards and the interests of patients and staff."