The police said the scope of the investigation – relating to neurosurgery and general surgery between 2015 and 2021 – remained unchanged.

A spokesperson said: ‘Sussex Police is committed to conducting a thorough and transparent investigation. Due to the complex nature of the enquiries, this is likely to take some time to complete.'

Sussex Police launched Operation Bramber in May 2023 to investigate allegations of negligence at the hospital's general surgery and neurosurgery departments between 2015 and 2021. The probe is understood to cover over 100 cases, including at least 40 deaths.

Professor Katie Urch, chief medical officer for UHSussex, said: ‘Whilst we can't comment on an ongoing police investigation, we offer our sincere sympathies to those involved. Many of these cases go back many years, and so we are keen to support Sussex Police in any way we can to progress their enquiries as quickly as possible, and to allow us to learn any lessons for the future.'

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WSHFT) was asked to take over the management of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) in 2017 when it was in ‘double' special measures in relation to financial and quality concerns.

WSHFT and BSUH merged in 2021 to become UHSussex.

A UHSussex spokesperson said none of the current executive team, nor the previous chief executive, had any involvement with BSUH before 2017.