Whoever would have thought it? A truly inspirational, technological-medical development may have an unexpected side-effect — easing a hospital’s car parking problem.

The process is called “telemedicine” and is used to diagnose conditions via a video link. Airedale Hospital has successfully employed the technique and is looking at extending it to use for patients with routine concerns.

This would mean patients wouldn’t have to go to the hospital and would mean less patient traffic on site, hence freeing up parking spaces. That train of thought gives an indication of the almost impossible task of finding a solution to the issue of parking at and around the hospital.

A major review is being carried out by the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust but the hard fact is that it would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to ease this issue and that is a “no-brainer” at the moment. Airedale has 1,400 car parking spaces, with 500 for patients. It has 2,500 staff who are charged a pittance of £5 a month to park in the other spaces.

Sadly, an increasing number of staff are using nearby roads to avoid the charge, an issue which the Steeton Parish Council has rightly raised.

Ann Wagner, the director of strategy and business development with the trust, told councillors as it was a public road they had no jurisdiction — surely a bit of a cop-out.

Thankfully, police are taking action by issuing tickets to those parking on bends or obstructing paths.

That will cost more than a fiver.