HEALTH chiefs are to press ahead with plans to reform services at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The hospital's gynaecology unit could be closed, with beds moved to a multi-purpose ward with general surgery, ear nose and throat and ophthalmology patients.

Louise Robson, acting chief executive of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, told a meeting of Darlington Borough Council's health scrutiny committee that the hospital has more beds than it needs.

"We are using fewer of our beds than other hospitals - that means we're more expensive," said Mrs Robson.

"We're looking at how we can get better use for our beds, but improve the care we provide for our patients.

"We're looking at how we manage our surgical patients and medical patients. The needs of both can be very different. At Darlington, we look after them through the same stream of care - that's not appropriate.

"If patients need to see a surgical team, they have to go to a different set of people at the moment. We are working to make the streaming of care more sensible throughout the hospital."

The revamp could see gynaecology, ear, nose and throat and ophthalmology patients combined with some general surgery into one ward. The changes would mean the loss of four beds, leaving 12 beds for gynaecology patients.

Councillor Heather Scott, the committee's shadow chairwoman, said: "We would welcome this, because some of the complaints we have had is that people go into one ward only to be moved into another.

"If staff move about, is there a chance that we can lose expertise? How have the staff reacted to this?"

Mrs Robson said: "We're confident that what we will need in the future is staff with a much better range of skills than ever because the demands for hospital services are changing every month.

"I think these changes are generally being welcomed by staff."