HEALTH officials have refuted claims that Bishop Auckland's new £67m hospital will be downgraded in favour of Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster held talks with officials yesterday over mounting fears that services could be transferred from the town's new general hospital to the Darlington hospital.

The Bishop Auckland hospital lost its 24-hour accident and emergency cover when trauma and emergency surgery were moved to Darlington, which is part of the same NHS trust.

A report is due to be published in the autumn, which will give recommendations on the future of women's and children's services in South Durham.

But yesterday, both John Saxby, chief executive of the South Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, and Ken Jarrold, chief executive of County Durham and Darlington Health Authority, gave assurances that services would continue at the hospital.

Mr Foster said: "I have received assurances from both chief executives that they are fully committed to continuing to provide a full range of medical and clinical services at Bishop Auckland hospital.

"I'm assured that the new hospital currently under construction will be fully utilised on completion for the benefit of the whole community."

A spokesman for the health authority said: "Local people have been waiting a long time for the new hospital and it is good to see the new trust will be moving in two months ahead of schedule."