Hospital workers are being urged to keep the noise down on the wards at night.

A survey of patients staying at Southlands Hospital in Shoreham and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester has revealed many are being kept awake.

Problems include squeaky trolleys, bleeping machines and noisy telephone calls.

The survey was carried out as part of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust’s productive ward programme.

It found that only 78% of patients were satisfied about the level of noise at night while others felt the disruption was unacceptably high.

In areas of the survey the trust regularly scored more than 90% satifaction so bosses are now trying to find ways to cut noise.

Chief executive Marianne Griffiths said: “Whilst we all recognise that some noise is inevitable during the night in a busy acute hospital we can resolve squeaky trolleys, pulsometer bleeps continuously going off, staff noise, the treatment of patients who are delirious and loud telephones."

Two study sessions have been held on the subject, which were run by a team for staff from across the trust.

Many of the patients who stay overnight at Southlands in particular are elderly and need extra support.

A spokesman for the Patient Action Group in Sussex said: “I think people accept they are likely to have some disturbance while in hospital but anything that can be done to keep the noise down would be good.”