THE future of hospital services in Hartlepool has sparked an angry exchange between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Labour have accused the Lib Dems of frightening people into believing there is a threat to the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

But the Lib Dems last night said they have unearthed evidence that shows vital services will be moved to other hospitals on Teesside.

Dr Evan Harris, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, has spent four days analysing reports from the Tees Review, an examination of the future of services.

He said the documents made it plain that services, such as emergency surgery, accident and emergency, paediatrics, general surgery and gynaecology, will be lost to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton.

And in a local newspaper, the chief executive of County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority, Ken Jarrold, wrote: "It will not be possible to retain all the services at Hartlepool and be sure that they are safe and reliable."

However, Hartlepool Labour MP Peter Mandelson, on a visit to the town to support by-election candidate Iain Wright, told The Northern Echo: "It (the hospital) is going to remain and its services are going to be maintained and, in my view, hospital care will strengthen for townspeople, not weaken."

Mr Wright, who is bidding to succeed Mr Mandelson when he departs for Brussels, accused opponents of frightening people when there was no evidence of a threat to the hospital.

But he has been quoted as saying: "I'm going to make sure it isn't downgraded or moved out of town."

Lib Dem candidate Jody Dunn said: "From the documents I have seen, we are looking at a serious downgrading of facilities in Hartlepool and that is not acceptable to the people of the constituency."

Dr Harris, a former member of the British Medical Association, added: "There is a real threat, and if we are left with just elective surgery and acute medicine, it is not going to be much of a hospital."

John Bloom, candidate for Respect, the Unity Coalition, and a hospital campaigner, said: "There is a real and huge threat to the hospital and services. Until I see something absolutely in concrete that says our hospital and its services will be maintained for a definite period, then I won't believe any of it."