NORTH Durham MP Kevan Jones yesterday gave his seal of approval to a new hospital for Chester-le-Street on a visit to the site.

The £12m hospital will provide 44 beds, but will not offer accident and emergency services. The town's former hospital, a 19th Century building, was demolished to make way for the development.

"The real scandal in the health service was what was on this site before, which was basically an old Victorian workhouse," said Mr Jones. "The new building is something people can be proud of.

"It is a major step forward. Local people have been waiting a long time for a community hospital in Chester-le-Street and we all look forward to it opening next September."

The build was funded through the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and will be run by North Durham Health Care NHS Trust.

Mr Jones met Steve Flint, regional director of the Robertson Group, which is responsible for building and maintaining the hospital. He was shown around the site along with Angela Ballatti and Steve Mason, chairman and chief executive of the trust.

The complex will include 40 beds for in-patients and a further four for palliative care. It will also house a children's centre, day hospital for the elderly, an outpatients department, and a pharmacy. The grounds will be shared by the North East Ambulance Service.

Special emphasis was placed in making the building light, airy and attractive for patients. There will be a terrace cafe and a courtyard with an ornamental pond.