HEALTH bosses yesterday rubber-stamped a controversial report that could lead to a major hospitals shake-up.

It means the hospital reorganisation plan drawn up by health expert Professor Ara Darzi will be put to the people of Teesside and Hartlepool without significant changes.

Three months of public consultation on the Darzi Plan, which has been greeted with acclaim in Hartlepool and hostility in Stockton, is expected to begin on September 23.

The public's comments will be analysed by an independent agency before a decision is taken by a joint committee representing all NHS groups involved in the plan. The proposals call for radical changes to hospitals north of the River Tees.

Put together by the Government-appointed health expert, the plan would mean the University Hospital of Hartlepool would keep accident and emergency, acute medicine and critical care services, but lose emergency surgery to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton.

Hartlepool would also become a centre of excellence for women's and children's services.

In exchange for becoming the main centre for emergency surgery and complex cancer surgery, the North Tees hospital would lose its special care baby unit and its consultant-led maternity and paediatric units

Yesterday's meeting in Middlebrough agreed the wording of the consultation document and an explanatory leaflet.

Anne O'Hanlon, the chairwoman of Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust and chairwoman of the joint committee, said: "There will be very many opportunities for public meetings and public debates."

A decision by the joint committee is subject to approval by local councils.

If there is a stalemate, the issue would be referred to the Department of Health.