DURHAM County Council's social services department has pledged to deal quickly with emergencies during the Christmas period.

The department says its action plan will ensure a prompt response. Emergencies include a patient's discharge from hospital to nursing or residential care; emergency referrals for residential, nursing or home care; or patients leaving hospital and needing help in their home.

The council's director of social services, Peter Kemp, said: "Anyone who normally receives a service such as day care, home care or respite care, should make sure they and their relatives know what to expect over the holidays.''

Anyone with a social services-approved stairlift or hoist should report faults on 0191-383 3793 during office hours, or 01831 194622 during evenings, weekends and public holidays.

The department is urging people to report intermittent faults in office hours: 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

Social services locality offices will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but will be open on December 27, 28 and 29. They will close for New Year, re-opening on January 2.

Locality offices are Wear Valley (01388) 454800, Durham and Chester-le-Street 0191-383 1010, Derwentside (01207) 290990, Sedgefield (01388) 424200, Easington 0191-518 6000.

Anyone with an emergency outside office hours should call the emergency duty team on (01740) 657796