A hospital trust is investigating after a patient was left waiting more than 12 hours for a bed to become available.

The patient was being seen in the accident and emergency department at the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards.

Patients are supposed to be seen, treated and either discharged or admitted within four hours of coming into A&E.

Afurther 25 patients using A&E at the Conquest and Eastbourne District General Hospital waited between four and 12 hours for a bed.

The figures came from NHS England’s weekly report on A&E activity at hospital trusts around the country and cover the seven days leading up to December 8.

East Sussex HealthcareNHSTrust deputy chief executive Richard Sunley said: “This is a very rare occasion and the circumstances around this incident are currently being investigated.

“On occasions it is appropriate due to the clinical condition of the patient for them to have extended treatment within the emergency department.”

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, had eight patients waiting between four and 12 hours.

Western Sussex Hospitals, which runs Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s in Chichester, had no long waits.

The Royal Sussex came under fire earlier this year after a surge in demand and a shortage of beds led to patients spending hours in its A&E department.

However managers introduced changes in there have been no waits of more than 12 hours since April.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals and East Sussex Healthcare have both received extra government funding this year to help cope with demand over the winter period.