The head of an NHS trust has denied there is institutional abuse at his hospitals.

Darren Grayson, chief executive of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, spoke out following the publication of a highly critical report by the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors carried out a routine visit at Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards in February and pinpointed areas of concern.

One was the findings of an East Sussex County Council report into safeguards for patients on Jevington ward, which found evidence of institutional abuse.

This is the mistreatment of people resulting from poor practice, attitudes or culture brought about the collective action of the organisation and the people working in it.

Mr Grayson said: “That was a one-off incident involving one that was taken seriously, investigated and dealt with immediately.

“The results of a recent inpatient survey showed that 90% of our patients reported very good or excellent care.”