A HOSPITAL is preparing for one of its trickiest operations to date as it prepares to switch services to a new hospital building.

Bishop Auckland General Hospital's old and new sites, in the town's Escomb Road, will be operating simultaneously over the next seven months as the process of transferring services into the new £67m premises takes place.

A hospital spokeswoman said a training schedule was being produced to ensure staff were familiar with the equipment and fire, health and safety regulations.

Two extra nurses have been appointed to oversee training in critical care.

The nine-bed critical care unit will replace the intensive care and coronary care units, and will include a cardiac assessment room to speed up diagnosis and treatment. The hospital will also include specialist clinics for children in the outpatients' department.

Head of commissioning for the hospital, Denise Potter, said the complicated move required careful planning.

She said: "There is a huge amount of work already going into preparation for next year's move, and this involves staff throughout the hospital."