Hospital bosses criticised over patient care have been told more improvements are needed.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has given East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust until the beginning of September to take action.

It says the trust, which runs Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards, has failed to protect the safety and welfare of people who use its service.

The CQC carried out a routine review of the trust in February and found there were insufficient numbers of staff available to support proper patient care in some areas, and care plans and risk assessments were not completed or were inaccurate.

A follow-up visit found some some improvements but inspectors still have concerns over patient records and assessments, leading to a risk of unsafe care.

On a separate inspection visit in May, inspectors also saw patients did not always receive the help they needed to eat and drink.

CQC regional director Roxy Boyce said: “There have been some improvements, but not enough.

“Failure to properly complete risk assessments and patient records means that people are not protected against the risk of unsafe care, while help with eating and drinking for those who need it is one of the basic fundamentals of care.

“This warning notice sends a clear and public message that this trust now needs to address these shortcomings as a matter of urgency or face very serious consequences.”

Trust chief executive Darren Grayson said: “I apologise to those patients whose care has fallen below acceptable standards.

“We must ensure that we get it right for all our patients all of the time.”