A THREE-MONTH public consultation begins today on plans to create a urology service covering County Durham, South Tyneside and Wearside.

The service will deal with problems of the kidney, bladder and other related organs.

If approved, inpatient treatment would be centralised at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

All other services, such as clinics, day-case operations and follow-ups, will continue at local hospitals to avoid unnecessary travel for patients.

The consultation looks at services at Sunderland Royal Hospital, the University Hospital of North Durham, Bishop Auckland General Hospital and South Tyneside Hospital.

Consultant urological surgeon Peter English said: "We need to make these changes to widen the availability of some treatments, cut waiting times and make sure cancer patients get the best treatment, in line with national standards.

"In addition, the changes will help combat recruitment difficulties in the area."

Mr English added: "If you need urology treatment, you would still be treated at your local hospital most of the time.

"A team of consultants will travel to each hospital to provide outpatient clinics, tests and day-case operations."

Mr English said that to offer the best care, complex planned and emergency inpatient operations would be centralised in a new 58-bed unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

The Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust is leading a public consultation on behalf of the local NHS.

A document and leaflet outlining the proposed changes is being circulated to interest groups and through GP practices and clinics. Copies are also available online at www.durhamcls-pct.nhs.uk