HEALTH chiefs want to redevelop services in the Stanley area by building two medical centres.

Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) hopes to demolish the town's surgery and replace it with a more modern centre.

This will provide services to help people with hearing loss, as well as occupational and speech therapy for children and their families.

The trust is also seeking to create a centre on land that will be available once Stanley bus station is relocated.

The centre will house GP services, nursing, various therapies, family planning, a dental service, hospital out- patient services and X-ray facilities.

Practitioners with a special interest in providing diabetes clinics, minor surgery and musculo-skeletal services will also be able to operate from the centre.

Derwentside PCT chief executive Wynn Griffiths said: "The most popular site identified by the working groups for the health centre development is the area that will be vacated when Stanley bus station is relocated.

"This will ensure excellent access to and from the town centre and help to regenerate the local economy by keeping and expanding activity within the town centre.

"The PCT has expressed an interest in this site and we are continuing to develop a business case in support of this option."

Services at Tanfield View Surgery, Louisa Surgery, Stanley and Craghead Medical Centre are to be kept.

But if the proposals go ahead, it means that accommodation occupied by the Child Develop Centre at Annfield Plain will be vacated.

Outpatient and x-ray services will be transferred from South Moor Hospital to the health centre in Stanley.

A final decision will not be taken until after consultation.

Derwentside PCT is asking patients and staff to express their views between February 20 and May 22. There will be two public meetings and two staff meetings.

Comments can be made on the proposals at the public meetings or via the PCT website at www.derwentside-pct.nhs.uk

People can also express their views in writing to Wynn Griffiths, Chief Executive, Derwentside PCT, Shotley Bridge Community Hospital, Consett, County Durham DH8 0NB.