FAMILIES of children born with a cleft lip or palate may have their travel to a new specialist treatment centre paid for.

Following a three-month consultation process, the Tees Health Authority board will next week be asked to consider a series of recommendations about the future of cleft services in the area.

Among the recommendations, is to have one centre for cleft palate care on twin sites in Leeds and Newcastle.

It has been suggested that the popular Middlesbrough service is retained as a check-up clinic for sufferers after users praised it in the consultation.

In the report to the board, Director of public affairs Heather Harding said: "The authority's dental advisor believes that parents and patients are satisfied with the results (at Middlesbrough) because they have nothing to compare their outcomes with and no knowledge of the best outcomes that are possible."

The board is recommended to keep Middlesbrough as a local clinic, if possible, but alternatives are suggested if it is closed and patients have to travel.

In the report Ms Harding said: "The new service should offer payment in advance to families eligible for help with travel costs and PTS transport for the journey home again, plus overnight hospital accommodation."

She goes on to stress that the centres at Newcastle and Leeds should work together to provide a single service rather than being viewed as two individual operations.

Originally, health bosses wanted to close the Newcastle specialist unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary but following protests it was decided to keep it open.

Cleft lip and palate surgery is provided throughout the region but if the proposals are accepted, patients would go to local hospitals or clinics for check-ups and routine services.

The report will be discussed at a meeting next week.

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