Almost all doctors' surgeries in Brighton and Hove are either cramped, in a poor condition or do not meet all the standards for disabled access.

Health bosses at Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust (PCT) have carried out a review of GP buildings across the city to find the scale of the problem.

It is now planning a long-term strategy to look at where and what services are provided for patients and how they can improved.

Part of the problem is a shortage of space and suitable buildings which could be converted into surgeries.

Some of the buildings physically cannot be adapted to offer full disabled access, while it would cost huge amounts to make the necessary alterations in others.

A number of premises are too small to house the number of staff needed to provide a wide range of services.

For example, 14 practices do not have enough rooms to let every doctor have their own consulting room and many share desks and computers.

Some smaller surgeries cannot run nurse-led clinics because of a shortage of space and, while some practices take blood samples in the surgery, others have to send patients to the hospital.

A number of premises do not comply with legislative requirements of health and safety for staff and patients.

Very few of the buildings have been purpose-built and most operate from converted houses or shops.

Three GP practices are hoping to convert an office block in Preston Road into a medical centre to house their surgeries, a move which could be copied by other doctors if successful.