THE new medical director of Darlington Primary Care Trust starts work today.

Dr Hilton Dixon has been a GP at the Denmark Street Surgery, in Darlington, since 1979.

He is well known to people in the town and said he was looking forward to getting his teeth into the new and challenging role, while remaining hands-on.

"About every five years or so I start looking for a new challenge and this is the latest one for me," he said.

Dr Dixon will be responsible for the trust's walk-in medical centre, Doctor Piper House, on the ground floor of Darlington Primary Care Trust's King Street headquarters.

Staffed by specialist nurses, the centre provides healthcare advice, information and treatment seven days a week for local residents, shoppers, commuters and visitors.

At the Darlington centre, people can receive healthcare advice and information and treatment for minor ailments, minor cuts and wounds, skin complaints, muscle and joint injuries, men's and women's health problems, emergency contraception, advice on staying healthy and information on local services.

He will also be responsible for the Park Place medical centre, which is under construction.

He said: "Although I enjoy being a GP, it was time for me to try something new. However, I will only be based at Doctor Piper House three days a week, so my patients will still get to see me."

But Dr Dixon has an unenviable task ahead of him. More robust checks on doctors are expected to come into force next month as the Shipman Review is published.

The review, led by Dame Janet Smith after the conviction of Dr Harold Shipman for killing 15 of his patients in Hyde, Greater Manchester, is likely to recommend a shake-up to the appraisal and re-evaluation processes doctors go through.

It will be Dr Dixon's job to provide clinical leadership and develop systems to boost patient care as the process pans out.

"Doctors are likely to be required to provide greater evidence of their performance, that they are keeping up to date and have good communications skills," he said.