COUNCILLORS have voiced fears that the future of provision for elderly people in Darlington could be hit by a radical shake-up of health services.

Proposals for the integration of services for older people, involving the borough council and the primary care trust (PCT), have been revealed.

But Conservative councillor Heather Scott told a meeting yesterday that she was concerned what impact the potential merger of the PCT could have on the scheme.

If proposals from the regional strategic health authority are approved, the six PCTs in County Durham would merge.

The plans have attracted cross-party condemnation from the council, which wants Darlington to retain its own trust within the borough boundaries.

Councillor Scott voiced her concerns about how council and health chiefs could work together if the merger went ahead.

"If we do go into a County Durham PCT, we will be dealing with other local authorities and they will have different priorities," she told a social affairs and health scrutiny committee meeting.

She also said there was confusion over costs of integrating services for older people.

The council's community services director, Cliff Brown, said a project manager would be appointed to look at the integration work and the position would be jointly funded between the town hall and the PCT.

He added: "We are looking for things that are actually going to save money between us, rather than being a cost."