A PANEL of health representatives is to scrutinise the cancer and joint replacement services at two North-East hospitals.

The Tees Health Authority, Hartlepool Primary Care Trust (PCT) and North Tees PCT, have arranged for a panel of representatives from local health organisations to look at the cancer and anthroplasty services at both Hartlepool and North Tees hospitals.

Terms of reference and the way in which the review will function have been agreed with a number of parties.

The panel and its independent chairman will invite written submissions from any interested parties including the organisations represented on it and will take evidence in public.

Following its deliberations, the panel will make recommendations and publish a report by February 28, next year.

The review process is not intended to substitute for the normal statutory consultation procedure. If the NHS decides that it does want to change the services it will remain the right of the Community Health Councils to ask for formal consultation to be undertaken.

Two expert advisors will assist the panel. Any recommendations the panel makes will not be binding on the participants.

Following receipt of the panel's report it will be up to the local NHS bodies to decide what, if any, changes to services they wish to make.