HOPES that a new £67m privately-funded hospital will open two months ahead of schedule were dashed yesterday as moving plans were delayed.

Earlier this year, hospital bosses announced that the new hospital at Bishop Auckland, County Dur-ham, would open two months ahead of schedule.

Staff were expecting to begin moving into the new building today - but that has now been postponed for at least another two weeks.

People with appointments at the new hospital's out-patients department have now been told to go to the old hospital building instead.

John Saxby, Chief Executive of South Durham Health Care NHS Trust, which is responsible for running the hospital, said the trust was awaiting the outcome of a full risk assessment report before going ahead with the move.

The report was requested after two men working for contractors received severe electric shocks while carrying out work at the hospital.

Mr Saxby said: "This has happened when the hospital is empty. We do not want this to happen when it is full.

"Our point of view is that it would be better to wait until the risk assessment has been completed before moving in.

"Modifications have been identified that would improve and strengthen mechanical and electrical services and we feel it would be advisable to carry these out before the hospital opens."

He said he was disappointed by the delay, but stressed that appointments made for the out-patients on Monday morning had not been cancelled, just moved back to the old building.

Manned information kiosks will also be put in place to help direct patients and visitors who may have been affected.

He said: "This is very disappointing for staff and patients who have been looking forward to moving into their new hospital and we are very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause."

An announcement is expected to be made about a new moving programme in about two weeks.

The move was originally scheduled for July but Mr Saxby is still hoping an opening date of May 28 is possible.