Bishop Auckland's £67m new hospital was given a glowing health report by the town's MP yesterday.

After touring the building, MP Derek Foster was full of praise for the hospital, which is due to open next month.

He also welcomed a controversial plan from the Department of Health's advisor on surgery, Professor Ara Darzi, which would mean sweeping changes at the privately-financed development and County Durham's two other main hospitals, Darlington Memorial and the University Hospital of North Durham.

Under the proposals, Bishop Auckland would be the main centre for routine surgery in the county, easing a beds crisis at the other hospitals.

But it would lose some services to Darlington, notably paediatrics, the special care baby unit, emergency obstetrics and gynaecology.

Mr Foster said the County Durham model could revolutionise hospital services around the country.

He said: "The new proposals have emerged, not from politicians, not from managers but from doctors at all three County Durham hospitals. They have discovered tremendous advantages in collaborating to make fullest use of the hospitals' superb facilities. Bishop Auckland has a secure long-term future."

The first departments, x-ray and outpatients, move into the new hospital on April 5, and patients will attend their first outpatient appointments on April 8.

The move should be completed by the end of May.