THE loss of two consultant pathologists from the same NHS trust in separate fatal road accidents is continuing to cause difficulties months after their deaths.

Dr Ceri Williams, 47, died in a cycling accident on a back road near Walworth, Darlington, three months ago. It was the second tragedy to affect the County Durham and Darlington Health Acute Hospitals trust.

Only five months earlier, a colleague from the same pathology department, Dr John Zuk, died in an accident involving a lorry while crossing a road near Doxford Business Park, in Sunderland.

Because pathologists are difficult to recruit, the loss of the two County Durham consultants has placed strains on the trust.

So far, officials say no vital services have been affected and efforts to find replacement consultants are continuing.

The trust, which includes Darlington Memorial Hospital, University Hospital of North Durham and Bishop Auckland General Hospital, has two vacancies, with only five staff consultant pathologists working in the three departments when there ought to be at least seven.

Pathologists play a vital role in diagnosing disease from samples taken from patients, including cases where cancer is suspected.

A spokeswoman for the hospital acknowledged that the trust's pathology department was experiencing difficulties in coping with the volume of work.