AMBITIOUS plans to modernise primary care across County Durham, including a new multi-purpose modern community hospital in Barnard Castle, will be revealed next week.

The replacement of the former Richardson Community Hospital in the Teesdale town with a "one-stop" multi-purpose community hospital incorporating mental health facilities is part of a multi-million pound investment strategy.

Outline details of 38 separate schemes to build or improve health centres, community hospitals and surgeries across the county are due to go before the board of County Durham Primary Care Trust on Tuesday.

But only a dozen schemes have firm funding in place and board members will be told that primary care trust (PCT) officials need to do further work to identify ways of paying for the schemes.

Considering the current financial squeeze in the NHS, this could result in delays to some projects.

In Easington, one of the most ambitious schemes will involve the £750,000 conversion of a disused waterworks into a base for health initiatives in east Durham.

The project in Paradise Lane, Easington Colliery, is just one of many schemes across County Durham designed to provide new or refurbished premises for GPs, district nurses, health visitors and other health care staff.

The plans will involve construction work in every corner of County Durham, from Derwentside in the north, to Teesdale and Easington.

In her report, Sandi Haywood, acting director of corporate services for the PCT, points out that there has been "significant under investment in buildings and facilities across primary care" and it is now national policy to ensure that health and social care should be provided from building which are "fit for purpose."

Projects where funding is in place include: Evenwood (new surgery); Barnard Castle (new community hospital); Bishop Auckland (new surgery); Stanley (new health centre and two surgeries); Wheatley Hill (new primary care centre); Seaham (new primary care centre); Peterlee (new primary care centre); South Hetton (new surgery); Newton Aycliffe (new health centre); Sacriston (new primary care centre).

Schemes where there are still unresolved funding issues include: Cockfield (new surgery); Middleton-in-Teesdale (new surgery); Crook (health centre); Lanchester (new surgery); Murton (expanded surgery); Easington Colliery (new branch surgery); Shotton Colliery (new health centre) ; Pelton (new surgery); Sherburn (new surgery); Coxhoe (new surgery); Middle Chare (new surgery); Langley Park (new surgery) and Brandon Lane (new surgery).