Millions of pounds are being paid out by the NHS as compensation for blunders at hospitals in Sussex.

More than £36 million was spent over a one year period to deal with claims made against the county’s hospital trusts.

The money includes damages paid to claimants, patients, staff and the public and legal costs involved.

The figure, which covers April 2013 to the end of last March, is a rise on the almost £25m paid out the year before.

However this does not mean a rise in complaints as cases can take several years to reach a final settlement.

The cost of care for people brain damaged or who have suffered injuries due to mistakes is also going up.

Compensation claims are dealt with by the national NHS Litigation Authority, which paid out £19.5m for claims against Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Payouts linked to Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust were £9.4m and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust paid out £7.6m.

Robert Bell, of Mayo Wynne Baxter solicitors in Brighton, said for many claimants it was not just about money.

He said: “We have had cases where people have tried complaining to a hospital but have not been happy with how it was handled.

“They feel the only way to get the explanation they need is to take the legal route.”

This year a boy of eight from the Lewes area left brain damaged after complications during birth won £9.5 million.

During his birth at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, the oxygen supply to his brain was cut off due to pressure on the umbilical cord and he was left with cerebral palsy.

A Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: “We take patient safety extremely seriously at all times and we fully investigate any incident.”