DAYS after receiving confirmation that it was among the survivors of a nationwide cull of local health service providers, Darlington's primary care trust (PCT) has announced a severe cost-cutting programme.

There was understandable jubilation in Darlington when it was announced that the independence of the borough's PCT was to be preserved.

That was echoed in places such as Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland, where separate PCTs will continue to exist, although new county structures were endorsed in Durham and North Yorkshire.

We welcome the unexpected degree of compromise and flexibility that has been shown by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt because we have seen the difference that local delivery of NHS services had made.

But yesterday's announcement that Darlington PCT must cut its spending by £2.3m to keep within its budget this year shows that there is a high price to be paid for its independence.

No one should be in any doubt about the impact such a financial reduction will have, with frontline services cut and a recruitment freeze that includes nurses.

The challenge now is to maintain the improvements that have been made in places like Darlington while managers are ordered to hack away at budgets.

For a Government which has made health a priority, and driven forward clear progress, it is hard not to take the view that we are now being asked to take a definite step backwards.

THE death on Mount Everest of North-East climber David Sharp is a tragedy not just for his family but for his fellow climbers who were powerless to help. Our hearts go to his parents, John and Linda, but at least they have the comfort of knowing that he died doing what he clearly loved.