DOCTORS' leaders have blamed bosses at a North-East NHS trust for a failure to put into practice a new deal for consultants.

In an unusual move, the British Medical Association (BMA) named South Durham Hospital NHS Trust, now part of the larger County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, as one of a group of hospitals where progress has faltered.

According to the BMA less than half of all English hospital trusts have met the April 30 deadline to bring in new consultant contracts. It said the main reasons for delays were interference from strategic health authorities, funding difficulties and problems with management.

The County Durham trust includes Darlington Memorial Hospital, Bishop Auckland General Hospital and the University Hospital of North Durham.

In a statement the BMA said consultants in these trusts "are experiencing serious difficulties because of management intransigence". The list includes seven other named hospital trusts throughout England.

The BMA said it was concerned that the trusts were insisting on immediate cuts in consultant workload.

"These unplanned and unacceptable cuts will undoubtedly lead to patients having to wait longer for their treatment," a spokesman said.

Steven Griffin, director of personnel for the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust said: "We are very surprised by the British Medical Association's comments. This is the first time we have heard that they are unhappy with the state of negiotiations."