HEALTH chiefs are expected to decide next month whether to close a hospital unit for leukaemia sufferers.

Campaigners have battled proposals to shut the six-bed haematology ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital and merge it with a unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, in County Durham.

It was opened in the 1980s after campaigners raised almost £300,000. Members of the fundraising committee, including former England cricketer Ian Botham's wife, Kathy, accused County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS trust of failing to consult properly on the plan.

Consultation was extended after a request from Darlington Borough Council.

Fundraising appeal chairwoman Councillor Heather Scott said: "We have achieved initially what we wanted to do. They have had to go out and re-consult. It really will depend on how good that consultation is or how widespread that consultation is.

"I had a letter last week from the health authority saying it could be May before any decision. I am fairly hopeful that we will get a successful result."

She said that if the trust decided to close the unit, the council had the power to appeal to the Health Secretary.

A trust spokesman said: "I do not know exactly when it is going to come before our board, but it could well be in May."