Hospital staff are treating more patients than ever for skin problems.

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust is holding six extra clinics each week at its two hospitals and treating an additional 400 patients per month.

The Worthing area has one of the highest incidences of skin cancer in the country due to its large elderly population.

To help keep pace with demand, the trust has appointed a locum consultant dermatologist, Dr Mahmud Ali, and a third specialist nurse, Anne-Marie Price.

The Friends of Southlands Hospital, where the department is based, has contributed about £50,000 to the service, including £30,000 for the latest equipment, which looks at suspect moles.

Meanwhile, a new post of bloodtransfusion nurse has been established to co-ordinate the use of blood in the hospitals, which spend more than £1.5 million a year on blood products.

Nurses Emma Purser and Lorraine Roe have taken on the position on a job-share basis.