CONCERNS have been raised that County Durham will be split in half by two health plans looking at how future services will be delivered.

Members of Durham County Council also raised concerns about progress of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) for the north of County Durham compared to that of the south.

Councillors heard that the area is the only one in the country to have its foundation trust divided in such a way.

North Durham is part of the plan for Northumbria and Tyne and Wear, and the south of the county coming under the one for Darlington, Teesside, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby.

The controversial plans were discussed at the authority's monthly meeting, with members resolving to write to the leads of both STPs seeking assurances on formal consultation arrangements, the decision making process and confirmation that people in County Durham will not experience any reductions in the availability of NHS services.

Cllr Lucy Hovvels, who proposed the motion, said: “There has been a great deal of confusion about the purpose and timing around STPs.”

Cllr Richard Bell said the northern STP appeared to be two to three years behind the southern one, adding: “I believe the southern one should be paused until the northern one catches up.”

Responding after the meeting, Mark Adams, lead officer for the Northumberland, Tyne, Wear and North Durham STP said: “STPs are a way of bringing organisations together so that they are better placed to respond to local challenges. The different plans reflect local issues and challenges that vary from one area to another, so it is difficult to make direct comparisons.

“STPs are a useful way to consider competing priorities and think about local needs, without being constrained by the shape of individual organisations providing the services.”