THE treacherous state of the buildings on a hospital site have been revealed for the first time.

Asbestos, crumbling roofs, and buildings too hazardous to use make up 20 per cent of Brighton General Hospital’s site in Elm Grove.

Never-seen-before images of unsafe and unused areas have been released as the hospital trust says plans to redevelop the site for housing have stalled because of Brexit uncertainty.

The dilapidated buildings would cost the NHS £18 million to repair.

The hospital’s clinics are spread across 20 buildings on steep slopes that elderly and disabled patients and parents with young children find hard to access, adding to the need for a new more suitable site.

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust which runs the site allowed filming for the first time to highlight the desperate need for more suitable facilities as plans for redevelopment have stalled.

The film crew had to wear special suits and hard hats to protect themselves from asbestos and falling debris in the boarded-up and unusable parts of the site.

Trust chief executive Siobhan Melia, said: “Since we announced our plan to redevelop the Brighton General site and build a new Health Hub, we’ve talked a lot about current buildings not being fit for delivering 21st century patient care or a healthy working environment for staff.

“We’re releasing these pictures to demonstrate the case for change in a new way, by showing what visitors to the site don’t often see – buildings that are closed down and no longer needed but still cost the NHS £1.5 million a year just to keep safe.”

The trust had planned to be working on the detail of the Health Hub design, in consultation with local people and Brighton and Hove City Council, following NHS approval this year but uncertainty in the run-up to Brexit has contributed to a delay by adding an extra step to developing its outline business case.

To see a video showing more of the conditions at Brighton General visit theargus.co.uk.

l THE Brighton General site provides community, mental health and outpatient services.

Much of the estate is used for offices for staff working in the community, for mental health services provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and social care services provided by the city council.

With the £485 million redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust is considering whether it still needs services at the site.

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust first announced its plans in 2017 and an outline business case was submitted at the end of 2018.

Mike Jennings, chief finance officer at the trust, said: “The health and housing aspects of our plan are dependent on each other. New housing is needed to fund the Health Hub and new health buildings are needed to release land for housing.”

THE Brighton General site provides a range of community, mental health and outpatient services.

Much of the estate is used for offices for staff working in the community, for mental health services provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and social care services provided by Brighton & Hove City Council.

With the £485 million redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, are considering whether they still need services located at the site.

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust first announced its plans in 2017 and an outline business case was submitted at the end of 2018.

The trust had planned to be working on the detail of the design by now.

Mike Jennings, chief finance officer at the trust explained: “The health and housing aspects of our plan are dependent on each other. New housing is needed to fund the Health Hub and new health buildings are needed to release land for housing. We’re working with Brighton and Hove City Council to explore ways to balance both in a way that is affordable.

“Assessing what the costs will be over the life of this project is part of the extra work we are doing at the moment, taking into account uncertainties in the housing development market in the run-up to the UK leaving the EU. We have to be sure that our plan can withstand cost fluctuations and market changes.”

The preferred design includes a seven-storey building housing specialist children’s social services, GP, mental health and children’s health services and pharmacy.