A hospital trust already rated inadequate is about to be placed into special measures, the BBC understands.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is due to publish its latest findings on Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust on Wednesday.
But sources have told the BBC the CQC will recommend the trust goes into special measures.
Neither the trust or CQC would comment ahead of publication of the report on Wednesday.
The trust runs the Royal Sussex hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath.
It means the leadership of the trust will be rated as inadequate and it is expected a number of other serious issues will be highlighted by inspectors.
The CQC will demand such issues are sorted out quickly.
Full story at BBC News 16 August 2016