A CONTROVERSIAL plan to merge hospital services is due to be debated by health authority bosses today.

If it goes through, bosses hope it will help County Durham hospitals to meet the challenges contained in the national NHS Plan.

But it would mean some services at the new Bishop Auckland General Hospital - such as the Special Care Baby Unit - being moved to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

It will also lead to some patients having to travel further for treatment.

Members of County Durham and Tees Valley Health Authority are expected to back plans to merge North Durham and South Durham hospital trusts.

Because of opposition from South Durham and Weardale Community Health Council the proposals will have to be forwarded to a Department of Health minister for a final decision.

The plan - drawn up by top surgeon Professor Ara Darzi - calls for the three main County Durham hospitals to work much more closely together. It aims to link general medicine at all three sites to allow greater specialisation.

A county-wide centre for planned surgery would be built at Bishop Auckland, easing the disruption caused by emergency admissions at other hospitals.

Some Bishop Auckland maternity, gynaecology and child health services would also be moved to Darlington.

This is to safeguard the long-term viability of services, according to health bosses.

But Brook Berry, one of more than 60 North Durham consultants opposing the merger, said a meeting between the North Durham consultants and health bosses last week "did nothing" to answer concerns about the practicality of merging two trusts which are 20 miles apart.

Valerie Bryden, chief officer of South Durham and Wear Valley Community Health Council, said: "Even now we feel there is not any willingness to look at alternatives and recognise the deep unpopularity of the proposals.