Controversial plans to demolish two frontline Teesside hospitals for a single "super-hospital" look set to be shelved, the Gazette can reveal today.
The future of both the University Hospitals of North Tees and Hartlepool was thrown into doubt in February when details were released of new plans to modernise services.
The proposals, under the Tees Services Review, included the development of a new "super-hospital" to be built on a site between Stockton and Hartlepool.
This would see the axe fall on both North Tees, in Stockton, and Hartlepool hospitals within the next ten years.
News of the £175m super hospital was met with mixed reactions from patients and politicians across North Tees.
In Hartlepool, where patients could have been forced to travel miles for treatment, it sparked a major outcry.
But today health chiefs appear to be backtracking on the super hospital proposal, saying it is no longer on the cards.
County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority said it would be issuing a statement on the current situation relating to the Tees Services Review in the next few days.
But a spokeswoman told the Gazette: "We can confirm that there are no plans at present for one hospital north of the Tees, and that the consultation is likely to be on changes to services to ensure there remains two vibrant hospitals.
"However, the decision to consult on any changes will be made by a joint committee of the four Primary Care Trusts involved: Hartlepool, North Tees, Easington and Sedgefield."
Today's news follows a statement from Bryan Hanson, chairman of North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust, hitting out at "misleading statements" about the future of Hartlepool Hospital from candidates in the forthcoming by-election.
He said: "I would like to reiterate that there is no intention to close the University Hospital of Hartlepool."
Only last night, MP Dr Evan Harris, former Lib Dem health spokesman, delivered his own findings into the Tees Service Review before a Hartlepool audience.
He concluded that any plans to close or even downgrade Hartlepool Hospital would be "detrimental to the best interest of Hartlepool and Easington patients" and "unnecessary and misconceived".
Hartlepool's Save Our Hospital campaign has been battling for several years against any threat to close or reduce services and has raised a petition of about 40,000 signatures.
Jody Dunn, Liberal Democrat candidate for the upcoming Hartlepool by-election, and strong supporter of the Save our Hospital campaign met today's news with caution.
She said: "Now the real test starts - whether or not the hospital is going to be downgraded.
"The people of Hartlepool aren't just saying let's keep a hospital - they want to keep the hospital in its current form offering the services that people need.
"I still feel many of these services, such as paediatrics, emergency surgery and trauma, are under threat and taking those services out of Hartlepool would be ripping the heart out of it."
