The Victoria Infirmary is one of four Glasgow sites affected

The Western Infirmary, the Yorkhill Hospitals, the Victoria Infirmary and Gartnavel General Hospital are all affected by the move.

A sliding scale of charges will be payable by staff, patients and visitors to the four sites.

The maximum daily parking charge was originally to be £12 but was reduced to £7 after a widespread review.

Concessionary charges

The minimum charge will be £1 for two hours, £1.50 for up to three hours and £2.50 for up to four hours.

Disabled badge holders may park free in any public car park space on any site.

Frequently attending visitors for longer stay patients and children younger than 16 will be eligible for concessionary charges.

The penalty for inappropriate parking will be £40 - which will be reduced to £20 if paid within two weeks.

Staff earning less than £10,000 a year will pay £5 a month for parking.

This will increase to £40 a month for those earning more than £30,000.

The Unison union, which represents many health service workers, said it was a "tax on the sick" which would also wipe out a recent 2.5% pay rise for many staff.

Tom Divers, chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "We must all remember why car parking charges are being introduced to our busiest hospital sites.

"Some of our sites are log jammed with commuters taking advantage of free hospital parking, resulting in patients and visitors, especially the disabled, struggling to find spaces.

"On other sites there is simply so much congestion and lack of managed parking regimes that the car parks simply do not serve the needs of patients, visitors and staff."

The charges will also be introduced at Stobhill Hospital and the Southern General in November.

The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley will follow in December.

The final phase of implementation will see charges introduced at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock and Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria in early 2008.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary already has a private car park with charges.