A NEW hospital which closed down a diabetic clinic on the day it opened because of staff shortages has resumed the specialist service.

Diabetics were outraged when the University Hospital of North Durham closed a regular Friday clinic two months ago.

The move affected about 180 patients living in the North Durham area.

At the time, consultant Dr Eric Sanders wrote to his patients explaining that he had been forced to suspend the weekly clinics due to lack of doctors.

Patients were told to go to their GPs if they had a problem.

Diabetes UK, the national charity which represents 1.4 million diabetics, said it was an appalling way to treat patients.

Earlier this week, the charity criticised the poor standard of care for people with diabetes throughout Britain.

But now North Durham Health Care NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, has confirmed that the Friday clinic has been reinstated.

It follows the recruitment of a local GP with an interest in diabetes who has agreed to assist Dr Sanders.

To catch up on any backlog, the hospital is putting on an extra weekly clinic on Friday afternoons.

Steven Mason, acting chief executive of the trust, said: "The good news is that we have now identified a GP to assist Dr Sanders and we are in the process of recalling all the patients.

"The original decision to suspend the clinic was regrettable, but unfortunately there was no alternative at that time."

Mr Mason said patients who needed urgent attention had been seen during the past few months.

The cancellations had affected only non-urgent patients who attend the regular clinics.

Mr Mason said the trust was talking to local primary care groups to secure more funding for the diabetes service.