We don't want a £67m white elephant - MP

Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster says he is disturbed by mounting fears that services could be lost from the General Hospital and transferred to Darlington Memorial, which is operated by the same NHS trust.

He asked for meetings with John Saxby, chief executive of the South Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, and Ken Jarrold, chief executive of County Durham and Darlington Health Authority.

Earlier this week, the trust forecast a £2m budget overspend this year, which it blamed partly on over-performance.

Bishop Auckland lost its 24-hour accident and emergency cover when trauma and emergency surgery were moved to Darlington.

A report is due in the autumn giving recommendations on the future of women's and children's services across South Durham.

Mr Foster said: "People need to be reassured. There is a perception in the town that services are going to move to Darlington and we won't have a general hospital providing a full range of services, but a community hospital.

"It is a massive building that could finish up like a cottage hospital. There are fears that we could be left with a huge museum piece and we want to dispel these."

General practitioner Dr Bob McManners added: "There is a very significant concern among GPs in the whole area about the reduction in services."

Bishop Auckland councillor Stephen Gregory said: "The situation is ridiculous. I can see this being a £67m white elephant. Too many services are going to Darlington."

Mr Saxby announced last night that the development, which is being built under a Private Finance Initiative, will be ready two months ahead of schedule in May 2002.

He said: "The new hospital will house all those services currently provided in the existing Bishop Auckland General and Tindale Crescent Hospitals.

"Modern facilities will also include a permanent MRI scanner to replace the current visiting service, an additional fourth operating theatre and a second endoscopy suite.