PLANS have been announced to ensure patients are getting the best health care possible.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust has prioritised services for people living in Hart-lepool, east Durham, Stockton, and parts of Sedgefield.

The plan includes meeting waiting time targets, developing cancer services, improving the quality of health care and meeting financial targets.

The trust aims to recruit more staff, establish an extra two high-dependency beds at Hartlepool General Hospital and an extra intensive therapy bed at North Tees General Hospital, and will modernise its outpatient departments.

There are also plans to increase opening hours in day care surgery so more people can be seen in a quicker time.

A new breast unit will be created at North Tees General Hospital and there will be improved local access to chemotherapy sessions.

Julian Hartley, the trust's director of acute services, said: "We have a very challenging agenda for this year, along with introducing the Government's NHS plan, but I am confident we can achieve it due to the hard work and support of staff.

"We want to provide the best possible health care for local people as well as ensuring that we make the trust a great place for our staff to work in."