A REVIEW of a shake-up of health services in two Teesside hospitals begins this month.

The review panel, made up of members of local organisations, will analyse plans for changes in cancer and arthroplasty - hip and knee joint replacement - services in North Teesside.

It will look at ways in which cancer surgery can be improved and at options to reduce waiting lists for hip and knee replacements.

It will also offer the health trust an opportunity to test and explain its ideas with local representatives and outside experts.

The proposals included the moving of some orthopaedic services - mainly hip and knee joint replacements - to the University Hospital of Hartlepool from the University Hospital of North Tees.

It was also planned that some cancer treatments would be moved from Stockton to Hartlepool, creating centres of excellence at each hospital.

But the plans raised fears that patients would have to travel further for services, and a petition against the moves attracted thousands of signatures.

Tees Health Authority ordered in November that the plans be halted while a review was carried out.

Yesterday, health officials announced that Professor Joan Higgins would chair the review panel.

The panel will start preparation work this month and will meet for the first time in February.

A report of its findings is expected to be published by the end of March.

Other members of the panel include representatives from local primary care groups, Stockton and Hartlepool borough councils, the Tees Health Authority, and local community health councils.

The health authority and primary care trusts are keen to receive written submissions from individuals or organisations that have an interest in the reorganisation.

Write to Steve Spoerry at Tees Health Authority, Poole House, Stokesley Road, Nunthorpe.