FEARS are growing that a long-awaited £67m hospital will never be fully opened due to a lack of money.

Less than a year ago, Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled the foundation stone of the new Bishop Auckland General Hospital, which is due to open in summer 2002.

Mr Blair told the crowd that they had waited "a very long time" for a new hospital but soon the wait would be over.

But local GPs and health watchdogs are concerned that an independent review of women's and children's services ordered by South Durham Health Care NHS Trust will mean that the new hospital will be downgraded to a glorified community hospital.

Trust officials say the review is to ensure services match demands in the light of changing medical and technological practices.

But there are also concerns that the new hospital may be crippled by cash shortages, as the South Durham NHS Trust tries to claw back a projected £4m overspend this year.

Ferryhill GP Dr Andrew Oakenfull, who chairs County Durham Local Medical Committee, said: "There is real concern among GPs who use Bishop Auckland regularly. A lot of doctors are worried this review is going to mean the loss of services and any meaningful hospital."

While he acknowledged that substantial extra funds had been pumped into the local health service he pointed to "years of chronic under-funding" which was catching up with the NHS.

Valerie Bryden, chief officer of South Durham and Weardale Community Health Council, said: "It will become very embarrassing for everyone if you have a new £67m hospital that has very limited services."

Mrs Bryden said it was important any proposals which came out of the review "did not jeopardise local choice."

A spokeswoman for the South Durham trust said the increasing amount of day surgery and the tendency towards caring for children in their own homes had to be recognised.

An independent healthcare consultant will shortly be selected to carry out the review.

All interested parties will be involved and the resulting recommendations will go before County Durham and Darlington Health Authority.

Any proposed changes will be subject to full consultation.