ON the day that a new £97m hospital opened for business, health bosses have admitted they do not have enough doctors to run a clinic for patients with diabetics.

Dr Eric Sanders, a diabetes specialist at Durham's Dryburn Hospital - which is moving "next-door" to its new home at University Hospital of North Durham this week - has written to his patients warning that he has been forced to suspend his regular Friday clinics, due to a lack of doctors.

Patients have been told to go back to their GPs if they have a problem.

Diabetes UK, the national charity which represents Britain's 1.4m diabetics, said the cancellation of a weekly clinic at Dryburn Hospital was an appalling way to treat patients.

In his letter, Dr Sanders explained that the only other doctor helping out at the Friday clinic - local GP Dr Vithayathil Pappachan - is about to retire.

"This was brought to the attention of the trust and health authority as long ago as a year.

"Unfortunately, we have been unable to find any replacement for Dr Pappachan. Therefore, I am afraid that the only solution for the moment is for me to suspend all appointments, until we can find adequate numbers of doctors to run the clinic properly. My personal feeling is that this is quite wrong, but I have no alternative, since it is impossible for me to look after 70 patients on my own, on a Friday morning."

Sheila Burnage, from Bowburn, County Durham, a former nurse who has had diabetes for 20 years, said: "It seems incredible they have this new hospital, but they can't even find enough doctors to run a clinic."

But she stressed that she did not blame her consultant: "In no way am I criticising Dr Sanders, who is right to make a stand in the patients' interest. He is a good, caring, man."

Bridget Turner, head of policy at Diabetes UK, said: "It is unacceptable that patients with diabetes are being treated in such a shoddy manner. We will be pursuing the trust to urgently address this matter."

A spokesman for North Durham NHS Trust said: "We understand patient concern and we apologise for the inconvenience."

While the trust has been unsuccessful in recruiting doctors to the service so far, it is hoped the new hospital will be an added attraction in the future.