A hospital has announced a £3.6 million expansion.

Two wards are being created at Worthing Hospital with space for an extra 40 beds.

The move is part of long-term plans to transfer inpatient services for the elderly from Southlands Hospital in Shoreham to Worthing.

The wards will be based on the first floor of the East Wing, previously used as offices.

Work has just started and the first patients are expected to move in by the end of the year.

The wards are also expected to help the hospital cope during exceptionally busy periods, particularly in the winter.

Bed shortages can have a knock-on effect on departments, especially in accident and emergency where patients have to be treated and either admitted or discharged within four hours.

Hospital managers have been forced to open temporary beds at various locations around the hospital at peak times over the past year.

West Sussex Primary Care Trust has decided to make Worthing the major general hospital for the county and it will be dealing with more patients as a result. Creating more space will help the hospital contain infections such as MRSA and clostridium difficile (C diff).

The hospital has also just opened a dedicated isolation ward for patients diagnosed with C diff.

The 12-bed Broadwater unit has a team of specialist staff.

C diff is a major cause of diarrhoea and colitis, an infection of the intestines.

It can spread on the hands of those who have contact with infected patients.

Director of nursing Cathy Stone said: "We have created an environment where we can offer the patient the best possible care and treatment.

"This includes more space between beds, a strict cleanliness regime and highly skilled staff."

Cases of C diff are beginning to fall at the hospital.

There were 24 incidents in May compared with 33 in March and 29 in April.