More than 1,518 NHS posts in Sussex have been lost in the last 18 months, according to the Royal College of Nursing.

East Sussex Hospitals axed 500 jobs and ranked among the top ten health trusts in the country for creating the most vacancies.

The figures were revealed in a report by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) which holds its annual conference today.

It said a total of more than 22,300 NHS posts nationwide had been lost in 18 months and it was laying bare "the myth" that debt crisis in the NHS had been solved.

In a report called Our NHS - Today and Tomorrow - the union described the deficits crisis as "real and entrenched".

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust lost 400 posts as did Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Royal West Sussex NHS Trust axed 200 positions and West Sussex PCT lost 18.

The RCN report said almost three-quarters of newly-qualified nurses were still unable to find jobs and condemned "rushed, uncosted and untested" Government reforms.

It outlined how the financial crisis had affected patient services, including for those suffering from multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and mental health problems.

The financial crisis has also hit waiting times, especially for diagnostic tests, and has led to the closure of community hospitals in rural communities, it said.

According to the latest Government figures, the NHS as a whole is on track to reach financial balance by the end of the financial year.

At present, 35 per cent of NHS organisations are forecasting a deficit, with gross debts for the year expected to total almost £1.32 billion.

Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the RCN, said: "The deficits issue is not history - it is real, entrenched and continues to hit patient care, services and jobs. Yes, the NHS achieved overall financial balance last year - but at what cost?

"Our NHS remains caught up in a rip-tide of cuts, rushed reforms and poor workforce planning. This is hitting services, hurting patients, undermining staff morale and threatening the hard-won progress made over recent years."

The Government insists only 303 redundancies are clinical positions, such as those held by doctors.

Health Minister Andy Burnham said: "This RCN report presents an outdated and misleading picture.

"It is simply wrong to suggest that 22,300 staff are losing their jobs.

"Whilst of course every redundancy is regrettable, the actual number of compulsory redundancies is 1,446 of which only 303 are clinical positions.

"Indeed, since 1997, we have recruited around 85,000 more nurses.

"We recognise it has been tough for NHS staff over the last 12 months, but we have now put the NHS on a sound financial footing for the future."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said it was a "devastating" report for the NHS.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We warned the Government that their financial mismanagement would lead to job cuts and damage to services for patients. Unfortunately the RCN survey confirms our fears."

Have you lost your job or been affected by the job losses in the NHS? How has it affected the way hospitals are run? Leave your comments below.