Doctors fear lives are being put at risk by an independent hospital's bid to protect patient privacy.

Staff at King Edward VII Hospital in Midhurst, introduced a policy of removing patients' names from the doors of private rooms to maintain patient confidentiality.

But some doctors working at the hospital say it is taking the issue too far and could put lives at risk.

They claim removing the names could lead to confusion when identifying what treatment is needed for which patient and say two minor mistakes have already been made. In one incident the wrong patient was collected for an X-ray.

But the hospital says it has received no complaints or reports of any cases of mistaken identity or mistakes in clinical procedure since it launched the system four months ago.

The overall responsibility for patient safety lies with the hospital's chief executive.

A hospital spokeswoman said there were a number of safety checks and tight procedures to make sure mistakes would not happen and the issue of privacy was an important one.

She said: "We would consider it a breach of privacy if everyone visiting the hospital can see their names up on the door of each room as they pass.

"The patient's name is above their bed and on an identification bracelet so any nurse, porter or anyone who deals with a patient directly, can check it."

Other privately-run and independent hospitals in Sussex, remove patients' names from outside private rooms only if they are asked to.