GOVERNMENT claims that more doctors are working in the NHS have been backed by North-East health bosses.

Primary care and hospital trusts across the region now employ more GPs and consultants than in previous years.

But, while overall numbers have increased, there are concerns about the impact of curbs on the working hours of junior doctors, which take effect next month, and the growing tendency of GPs to work part-time.

According to official figures, there was an increase of 529 GPs and 959 consultants across the country in the first three months of this year.

While figures for the fragmented regional NHS trusts are difficult to gather, many primary care trusts (PCTs) say they now have more GPs.

Sunderland Teaching PCT said there are now 166 GPs working in the city, 33 more than in 1999.

North Tees PCT said that a new practice recently opened in the Hardwick area of Stockton and an additional Spanish GP was recruited this year.

In Darlington, officials estimate the town has 64 GPs, half a dozen more than in 2002 when a new salaried doctor scheme was introduced.

Middlesbrough PCT appointed seven Spanish GPs last year and recently opened a new kind of practice run by a senior nurse with the support of a GP.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust said it now has 242 consultants compared with 237 last summer.

County Durham and Darlington hospital trust recently appointed three orthopaed-ic consultants.

But Dr John Canning, a Middlesbrough GP who sits on the national British Medical Association GP committee, said: "The Government is not comparing like with like.

"We now have a GP workforce that is increasingly part-time.

"If you multiply that around the NHS, you are going to have a real problem."