THE decision whether or not to merge hospitals and push through controversial reforms is now in the hands of a Government minister.

After an hour-long meeting, County Durham and Tees Valley Health Authority backed the so-called Darzi Plan to shake up local hospital services.

Despite a petition, the opposition of more than 60 consultants and at least one patient watchdog, chairman Tony Waites said he believed the radical proposals were broadly supported.

If it is approved by the Government it should lead to the setting up of a single county-wide hospital service for County Durham within 18 months.

After the meeting, health authority chief executive Ken Jarrold pledged to defend the future of Bishop Auckland General Hospital's medical services.

The hospital would be stripped of some services - including the special care baby unit - if the moves goes ahead.

Mr Jarrold hinted that foundation status for a future County Durham trust could lead to higher salaries for doctors willing to work at Bishop Auckland.

Health bosses also promised to work with local authorities to try to improve transport links between the main hospitals.

The plan was drawn up by London surgeon Professor Ara Darzi in response to growing concerns about a lack of capacity within the County Durham hospital system.

Prof Darzi's answer was to call for a closer working relationship between the hospitals and the setting up of a protected surgical centre at Bishop Auckland hospital, where waiting-list cases could be treated without the risk of operations being disrupted by emergency admissions.

The authority believes the changes would help County Durham hospitals hit tough NHS targets.

Bob Aitken, clinical director of obstetrics at the South Durham trust, said that the proposed midwife-led maternity unit would not increase risks for mothers and babies.

He said: "Only very low-risk women will be allowed to have babies at the midwifery-led unit."

Mr Aitken said the annual numbers of births at Bishop Auckland would probably be halved from 1,400 to 700.

David Woodhead, chief officer of Durham Community Health Council (CHS), said extra capacity at the University Hospital of North Durham was needed sooner rather than later.

And Valerie Bryden, chief officer of South Durham CHS, warned that the authority might have to "go back to the drawing board" if senior doctors decided the plans would not work.