Winter pressures are continuing to have an impact on hospitals with hundreds of patients waiting up to 12 hours for a bed in the last two weeks.

Figures from NHS England show 260 patients stayed in accident and emergency departments in Brighton and Haywards Heath for between four and 12 hours after a decision had been made to admit them.

Fifty-one patients were delayed at Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital, in Chichester, while 28 waited for longer than they should have in A&E units in Eastbourne and St Leonards.

Delays are partly caused by difficulties in finding beds in the community for patients ready to be discharged but who need extra support before going home.

A recent outbreak of norovirus at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath led to wards being closed which also had a knock-on effect on A&E.

Efforts to ease pressures include opening more community beds, opening a new ward for Brighton patients in Newhaven and extending GP opening hours to include weekends.