FUNDRAISERS who helped to pay for a hospital unit for leukaemia patients say plans to move it from Darlington to Bishop Auckland are a stab in the back for the people of the town.

A committee of volunteers raised almost £300,000 during the late 1980s to have the haematology unit opened at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

But staff at County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust have recommended that the six-bed inpatient unit should be merged with a similar unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

Aileen Norris, former BBC Radio Cleveland broadcaster, who set up the fund after her husband, David, died of leukaemia, said: "I started it by getting Heather Scott, who was mayor at the time, to be kidnapped by some off-duty policemen dressed as gangsters. I also got her to be chairman.

"It just took off - the fundraising was phenomenal. We had a target of £250,000 and raised £290,000. Everyone, from pensioners to children, raised money for the unit.

"To find out they are considering taking it out of Darlington is a stab in the back for all those people who raised the money for it to be here."

Coun Scott said: "The concern is that when this fund was set up we had the support of the residents of Darlington.

"I just think it's an insult to all those people who raised all that money for this to be thought about with no consideration for them."

A spokesman for the trust said a group of doctors and nurses had been looking at the future of haematology inpatient services.

He said: "The majority have agreed, in principle, that these should in future be provided from Bishop Auckland General Hospital. All other forms of treatment, such as outpatients and day cases, will continue at both Darlington and Bishop Auckland."

He said the feasibility of the move would be assessed by the trust board before any decision was made. He added: "We are grateful for the past and present generosity of the people of Darlington towards the unit.

"Our priority in planning for the future, however, must be to ensure the best quality of care for patients in South Durham and Darlington."

Despite the recommendation by colleagues, the unit's consultant haematologist, Dr Peter Williamson, is against it.

He said he would prefer the inpatient unit to stay at the Memorial, close to other acute services such as gynaecology and the ear, nose and throat department.

"There is a need to have the inpatient unit on one site," he said. "But there are fairly convincing arguments for putting it in Darlington, rather than Bishop Auckland."

Liz Metcalfe, a member of the fundraising committee, said they would fight the proposals.

"The whole of Darlington and the dales raised the money for this unit," she said. "Everybody did it and now they are wanting to shift it. I think it's an absolute disgrace."

Joan Scotter, secretary of the fund, said: "We raised £290,000 in three years. That's why I'm really gutted to think all this is going to be in vain.

"We can't let it happen. A lot of people put a lot of hard work into it."