AN independent health expert has predicted that important services at a North-East hospital are likely to be transferred elsewhere in the long-term.

The main focus of last week's report by leading surgeon Professor Ara Darzi concerned proposed changes to hospitals in Stockton and Hartlepool.

But as part of a wider regional remit, Prof Darzi also looked at the relationship between the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire and its larger partner, the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

He also suggested that the future of the Friarage depends on much closer working relationships with the 1,000 bed Teesside hospital, with more patients having to travel between the two sites.

Prof Darzi, who is developing a reputation as a health service troubleshooter, was invited by County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority to oversee a review of hospital services on Teesside.

While he accepted there was a strong case for the existing accident and emergency service and full maternity service to remain at the Northallerton hospital, he said it would be "hard to justify maintaining a trauma service and emergency surgery out of hours at the Friarage for the longer term".

The surgeon suggested that as part of the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, the Friarage will have to work more closely with the Middlesbrough hospital.

He argued that the Friarage's out of hours trauma and emergency surgery service were "likely to to be provided from the James Cook University Hospital".

Prof Darzi also suggested that the Friarage could find a new role by relieving pressure on the James Cook hospital.

As well as taking on more orthopaedic and possibly ophthalmology cases, Prof Darzi suggested that the Friarage could also be developed as a centre for planned surgery.

Prof Darzi has offered to provide further advice on how the fullest range of hospital services can be safeguarded when the Friarage's Clinical Futures Board reports back within the year.

South Tees trust chief executive Simon Pleydell said: "We have only just seen the report and clearly we have to understand what it means for our hospitals and the patients we serve.

"There will now be a period of looking at the detail followed by consultation with the public right across our area on the recommendations. We will be playing an active part in this whole process."

Independent health campaigner Graham Maloney, who lives near Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, said it was "a nonsense" to talk about taking services away from the Friarage Hospital.

"They have already closed down the Catterick Hospital to the public, I would have thought it was even more important to offer a full service at Northallerton."