A MOTHER has launched an appeal to halt the closure of the baby unit that saved her life and the lives of two of her children.

Joanne Bolton, 30, has started a petition to halt the proposed transfer of services from University Hospital of North Tees Hospital, in Stockton, to University Hospital of Hartlepool.

The Stockton mother-of-three's own life was saved by doctors and nurses at what was then North Tees Hospital's special care baby unit when she was born prematurely.

Mrs Bolton fears that a controversial hospital reorganisation plan will lead to the closure of the children's unit at North Tees.

As part of a plan drawn up by leading independent surgeon Professor Ara Darzi, the North Tees hospital would be stripped of its special care baby unit and consultant-led maternity unit.

These services would be moved to Hartlepool, 12 miles away, as part of moves which would make the Stockton hospital the main centre for emergency surgery.

Mrs Bolton is circulating a petition around other mothers in Stockton and urging people to lobby the town's MP, Dari Taylor, or the hospital's chief executive, to oppose the move.

"Thirty years ago, I was a premature baby at that special care unit. Without them, I wouldn't have survived," said Mrs Bolton..

Her second child, Melannie, faced a battle for her life when she was born ten weeks premature, in June 2000.

"She was born by emergency Caesarian and was rushed straight into special care," said Mrs Bolton.

"Two days later, she went critical. We baptised her. We didn't think she was going to survive."

But staff at North Tees did not give up, and she made a full recovery.

Her third child, Amy, who was born prematurely at North Tees Hospital in May, also required the expertise of the special care unit.

A spokesman for the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust said: "In September or October, there will be a three- month formal consultation, which health organisations are required to carry out by law.

"This will give the public, patients and their families and staff another opportunity to voice their views."

He said thatservices for very sick babies are the subject of a separate review, which is continuing.