AN independent review set up to make a decision on a major overhaul of orthopae- dic and cancer services in a North-East area will hold its first meeting at the end of the month.

The North Tees and Hartlepool Health Trust originally proposed the controversial changes, which would involve cancer patients from Hartlepool travelling to Stockton for treatment, and hip and knee patients from Stockton going to Hartlepool for treatment, last year.

The plans were vehemently opposed by members of the public, Stockton Borough Council and Stockton North MP Frank Cook.

The panel of representatives on the review will make recommendations about how access to cancer surgery and hip and knee surgery can be improved.

The public will have the opportunity to attend a series of panel meetings, and have been asked to write expressing their interest in attending and to make a formal request to speak.

Anyone who wants further details about attending panel meetings, which begin on March 25, should write to Steve Spoerry, Whole Systems Development, Tees Health Authority, Poole House, Stokesley Road, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough TS7 0NJ.