DURHAM'S new £97m hospital will open its doors for the first time next week.

The University Hospital of North Durham, which replaces Dryburn Hospital, is due to admit patients on Tuesday.

The development is being carried out in two phases and inpatient services will be transferred to the new site throughout next week. These will include the accident and emergency department, 14 medical and surgical wards, operating theatres and intensive care.

Steven Mason, acting chief executive of North Durham Health Care Trust, said: "The new hospital is a wonderful building and we are looking forward to moving in.

"With 11 state-of-the-art operating theatres, a modern accident and emergency department with high-tech resuscitation units, digital X-ray and modern wards, once patients start to arrive, they will find the facilities quite different to what we have been used to."

He added: "Moving into the new University Hospital is a mammoth task and we apologise for any inconvenience that might be caused."

There will be a limited accident and emergency service at Dryburn Hospital while the department moves to the new site.

Emergency ambulances will take patients to nearby hospitals between 9pm on Monday, April 3, and 10 am on Tuesday. People who arrive at Dryburn will be treated as normal but non-urgent cases may have to wait longer than usual.

The hospital was among the first in the region to be funded through the Government's Private Finance Initiative. It has a modern layout with patients housed in bays of two or four beds.

Sister Susan Amos, from the Coronary Care Unit, said: "The unit is very spacious and will be a big improvement for the patients and staff and, I hope, a much nicer environment to work in."

Staff Nurse Janet Bonarius, from Ward 17, added: "The new department will mean we can provide patients with a more efficient service in a modern and comfortable environment."

Local MPs also welcomed the move. Gerry Steinberg, MP for Durham City, said: "After many years of waiting, we now have a hospital that is probably one of the best in the country."

The second phase of the development will take place in August when outpatient services are transferred.

Most of Dryburn Hospital will be demolished and part of the site will provide a car park for the University Hospital. The rest of the land has been earmarked for development