PROPOSALs for a major shake-up of cancer and orthopaedic services in the North Tees area are to be discussed at a series of public meetings during the coming weeks.

The North Tees and Hartlepool health trust, which provides services at the University Hospital of North Tees and the University Hospital of Hartlepool, made plans last year to focus cancer services at the Stockton site and hip and knee replacements at the Hartlepool hospital.

The plans would mean that hip and knee patients in Stockton would be forced to travel to Hartlepool for treatment and Hartlepool cancer patients would travel to Stockton for care.

Opposition from Stockton North MP Frank Cook, Stockton Borough Council leader Bob Gibson and members of the public led to Tees Health Authority setting up a review panel to look into the proposals.

Now, public meetings are to be held at The Swallow Hotel, in Stockton, on Monday, between 1.30pm and 4pm, and Tuesday between 10am and noon and 1.30pm to 4pm.

On Monday, April 15, further meetings are being held at the Grand Hotel, in Hartlepool, between 10am and noon and between 1.30pm and 3pm.

People are asked to inform Tees Health Authority that they will be attending any of themeetings.

They should write to Steve Spoerry, Whole Systems Development Director, Tees Health Authority, Poole House, Stokesley Road, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough TS7 0NJ.