The firm has given no indication of its position regarding a possible buy-out of the remaining 20 years of the contract, Ninewells’ site manager Brian Main confirmed today.

At the beginning of this month the Scottish Government ordered NHS Tayside to look into terminating its contract with the private firm and called for a report on options to be delivered to them by the end of November.

Previously, Dundee East MSP and public health minister Shona Robison said the cost of buying out the contract would be prohibitive and Ninewells patients, visitors and staff faced 20 years of charging.

Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced on the first day of the new session of the Scottish Parliament that hospital car park charges elsewhere are to be abolished by the end of the year.

She excluded three hospitals in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee where car parks were built under private finance initiative deals, tying the sites to contracts with private operators. Ms Sturgeon said a buy-out would cost “tens of millions.”

But over three weeks ago, when Vinci Park posted notices at Ninewells warning they will increase charges by 10p a visit from November 3, Ms Robison revealed the government had called for a report “exploring options for terminating or varying the terms of the contract”.

The health authority has also been asked to discuss with the contractor the potential to minimise or reduce charges. “We have made contact with the PFI provider to start these discussions formally,” said Mr Main.

He confirmed that the health authority has had no response to that request.

NHS Tayside has written to the chief operating officer of Vinci Park requesting a meeting with NHS Tayside’s chief operating officer Gerry Marr.

“We really need to find out first and foremost from Vinci Park what their company’s position is (on a buy out) and that is the discussion we are waiting to have,” said Mr Main.

He previously confirmed there is no buy-out clause in the original contract and any changes would have to be made with the agreement of the private company, following negotiations.

Vinci Park has consistently refused to discuss their position publicly.