Patients are potentially being put at risk as hospitals across Sussex struggle to clear a backlog of repair bills.

Health bosses have revealed it would cost up to £50 million to carry out outstanding maintenance work to buildings around the county.

The figure includes urgent repairs which have a higher or significant risk of affecting patient care.

This includes repairing defective rainwater pipes and leaks or damaged floors, replacing sinks and taps and fixing a cracked skylight.

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Moderate and low risk repairs include removing trailing cables, replacing double glazing, fixing leaking window seals, renewing felt roofing and replacing ceiling tiles.

A Freedom of Information request made by The Argus revealed Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust which runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath among others, has a backlog of just under £17m, with almost £3m classed as high risk.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has a bill for maintenance work at Eastbourne District General Hospital and Conquest Hospital in St Leonards of around £14.4m.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Worthing Hospital, Southlands Hospital in Shoreham and St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, has a backlog of around £17.5m.

Hospital bosses say some of the backlog is linked to the high maintenance costs of older buildings, including those at the Royal Sussex and on the Southlands site.

The planned £420m redevelopment of the Royal Sussex will include replacing buildings which are almost 200 years old.

A Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals spokesman said: “Our backlog repair bill refers to the amount of money we would have to spend to bring old buildings up to the standard of a brand-new hospital.

“Every year we have to prioritise the money we have to keep all our buildings in a good state of repair, safe and in line with statutory standards.

“Through our redevelopment project we plan to replace our oldest buildings with modern and welcoming accommodation which is fit for the provision of 21st century healthcare.”

Western Sussex Hospitals director of finance Spencer Prosser said: "Our trust runs three large hospitals, and so inevitably there are significant ongoing costs involved in keeping our sites maintained to a high standard.

“Since our trust was formed in 2009 we have reduced our overall backlog costs year on year.

“Our first priority must be to focus on the most urgent work which relates to patient care, safety or legal requirements, and we are successfully doing that.”