Health Trusts across Sussex have been given £1.1 million to clean up hospital wards and buildings.

The Government scheme aims to improve standards of cleanliness following reports earlier this year about the fatal consequences of poor hospital hygiene.

South Downs NHS Trust is spending £100,000 on refurbishing facilities at Brighton General Hospital.

Other trust-owned properties, including Victoria Hospital at Lewes and Downs House at Newhaven, will be inspected in the next two months to see where changes can be made.

Work has already started at the main entrance to Brighton General on cleaning and repainting walls, pipes, carpets, windows and reception areas.

Kitchens and day rooms on wards with a variety of items such as fly-screens, dishwashers, fridges and cupboards have been cleaned up.

Outpatient, X-ray and physiotherapy areas and toilets are to be refurbished and new cubicle curtains, bedside furniture, lockers, chairs and tables will be installed.

A trust spokesman said: "When you have an old building, it can be difficult to get the time and money to work on giving things such as walls and pipes a good clean.

"Now we have been given the money and the resources to do something. There is still a way to go but we are pleased with the changes so far.

"Many of the hard to get areas are now being inspected on a more frequent basis. This is gradually raising the level of cleanliness in these areas."

Official reports published earlier in the year highlighted problems with hygiene in hospitals across the UK amid growing fears about MRSA, the hospital super bug.

MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria.

It and other infections picked up in hospital are believed to kill as many as 5,000 patients each year and cost the NHS £1 billion to treat.

In April, Health Secretary Alan Milburn announced that all hospitals would have to meet national standards on hygiene in a bid to beat the bugs.