Crumbling hospitals and a mounting backlog of repairs are putting patients at risk.

The Government has admitted almost a quarter of patient areas in Sussex hospitals and NHS buildings are unsafe.

A survey of the NHS buildings run by the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority has revealed 22 per cent of areas used by patients do not meet health and safety guidelines.

Almost 17 per cent of floor space used by patients did not comply with fire rules either.

Likely problems that could arise as a result of "non-compliance" include fires, injury caused by poorly maintained facilities or trip hazards.

Non-compliance can include crumbling walls, faulty electrics or problems with mechanised systems.

The Liberal Democrats, who uncovered the figures in a written Parliamentary answer, blamed a backlog of repairs.

Work costed at £457 million is needed in the South-East region alone.

The national backlog of hospital repairs has reached £3.4 billion or £117 for every taxpayer in the country.

Lib Dem health spokesman Dr Evan Harris said: "These figures are alarming. Years of cuts have led to appalling conditions in Britain's hospitals.

"Crumbling buildings mean many areas are now considered unsafe. The repair bill is astronomical.

"This problem should have been tackled earlier, but it is not a 'must do' target, so hospital managers struggling to meet all the political targets they have been set cannot get round to basic repairs.

"Local NHS authorities should have more freedom to deal with local priorities.

"It is only a matter of time before a serious accident happens. Patients deserve better."

Health Minister John Hutton said many areas highlighted which did not meet health and safety or fire rules were only just below standard.

He said: "Therefore the figures do not indicate levels of risk and, despite significant proportions being non-compliant, the degree of risk to patients could be very small.

"Trusts make every effort to remedy any concerns from local enforcement bodies as quickly as possible.

"This is reflected in the very small numbers of injuries and deaths arising as a result of fires and reportable health and safety incidents in NHS hospitals in England, despite the high numbers of people who use healthcare premises."

However, David Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said the figures were not specific enough to give an accurate picture.

He said: "Obviously 22 per cent across the whole of Surrey and Sussex is an important figure but it does not tell us whether it is in our local hospitals."

He said he was impressed on a recent visit to the accident and emergecy department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, by the cleanliness and patient care .