A CAMPAIGN led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn to ensure his local NHS primary care trust survives merger plans has received a boost.

The board of Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) voted by six votes to four in a secret ballot to oppose wider merger plans and to retain local independence.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has ordered NHS reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy and spending more resources on front-line health services.

But the Darlington MP, who helped set up the network of local primary care trusts which are under threat, has objected to plans for Darlington PCT to be swallowed up by a County Durham and Darlington PCT, saying it is "ill thought-out".

He has had messages of support from hundreds of constituents and the backing of Darlington Borough Council.

Next month regional health bosses will chose between creating two new PCTs across County Durham and Tees Valley by merging the existing ten PCTs, or reducing the number of PCTs from ten to six, retaining independent PCTs in Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland.

The chosen option will be considered the Department of Health.