THE Royal Sussex County Hospital was named among a fifth of hospitals nationwide failing to provide “safe and appropriate care” to patients.

The Brighton hospital was among the rising number of hospitals failing to hit national standards according to Freedom of Information figures gained by the Labour Party.

The ratings refer inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

This months the CQC published a damning report revealing evidence of racially motivated bullying and harassment, “significant tensions” among staff, long waits in A&E and concerns over staffing levels and cleaning standards at the hospital.

The ageing Victorian hospital is being given a lick of paint ahead of another major inspection.

Union leaders say that medical staff at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton are being told by bosses to report where repairs are needed ahead of the next inspection by the CQC on May 20.

Union figures described the process as “papering over the cracks” at the hospital where bosses are still awaiting the green light from Government for a £420 million redevelopment.

GMB union rep Gary Palmer said that the inspection scheduled for next month is set to be an intense and thorough inspection lasting up to three days.

He added: “Our members are telling us that what can be painted and what can be repaired before May 20 is being done, hospital bosses are very keen to tidy up facilities at the hospital in time.

“We do need a new hospital but our concerns is when it opens we want to make sure that it is free at source and we don’t want privatisation to happen through contractors.

“Our members always want to give the best care they possibly can but the cuts are having an effect, they are struggling to recruit staff, they putting pressure on staff to do things more quickly and doing everything they can to demotivate the workforce.

“It is vital that whatever issues raised by the CQC are acted upon by the trust.”

A Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said that the CQC had advised them that the information published is based on a Labour Party FOI and represents an interpretation of CQC data rather than any formal report.

He added: "We are committed to providing a caring and compassionate environment for our patients and have received no notification from the CQC with regard to the information published by the Mirror newspaper.