A HOSPTAL trust has ended the financial year £68.5 million in the red.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust has revealed the figure, which is more than four times higher than the £15.6m originally planned.

The trust was placed in financial special measures last year because of concerns about its spiralling money difficulties.

New chief executive Marianne Griffiths told a trust board meeting yesterday getting out of special measures was one of five key areas she was focusing on.

Ms Griffiths, who is also chief executive of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, heads a senior management team which has buddied up with Brighton for at least three years to help it improve its performance.

She said: “Getting out of financial special measures does not necessarily mean a zero deficit within this time.

“However we do need to ensure we meet any financial plans which are agreed.”

Part of the problem has been caused by increased spending on temporary nursing and medical staff which are needed to provide cover for sickness and holidays.

Extra staff were also wanted to deal with the increase in beds and capacity at the trust which were brought in to deal with extra demand over winter.

The trust also had to write of £9m of bad debt which came from the financial year 2015/16.

This has not been resolved and it has had a knock-on effect on the end of year figure for hospital bosses.

Bosses also did not manage to meet all of its planned £25m of savings for the year, with departments struggling to hit their targets.

Hospital bosses have also had to deal with increased costs of drugs and supplies and services, which has added to the pressure.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which is also in financial special measures, is expected to have a deficit of more than £43m, which is also higher than it had planned.

Western Sussex Hospitals is reporting an underlying deficit of £1.8m.

Hospital trusts around the country are experiencing financial difficulties as they try to deal with an increase in demand for services and costs, while saving money at the same time.

Campaigners fear the controversial sustainability and transformation plans, which set out how NHS and social care services will work over five years, will add to the problems.

In the Sussex and East Surrey region, at least £800m of savings will have to be found as part of the plans.

The final details have not been finalised but there are fears the figure could end up being even higher.

Pressure groups such as Sussex Defend the NHS say trusts are already struggling following years of under funding.

They say further demands will lead to some services and jobs being lost.

Brighton was given an inadequate rating by the Care Quality Commission last year which led to it being placed in special measures for quality.

Western Sussex Hospitals was rated as outstanding following its inspection. This is why the Western Sussex senior team were approached by NHS Improvement to offer its expertise to Brighton.