THE Government has rejected an MP's claim that the decision to axe plans for a new ‘super’ hospital is contributing to staffing shortages at a hospital trust.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust was told by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that it must make improvements, with staffing shortages on some wards identified as one area of concern.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham said the University Hospital of Hartlepool and the University Hospital of North Tees were “very much dated” and “not as an attractive option for clinical staff as new complexes elsewhere”.

Last year the trust received an extra £25 million to improve the infrastructure at North Tees, following the scrapping of the Wynyard Hospital scheme.

Mr Cunningham said: “From personal experience, I know the tremendous pressures being faced by the trust – trying to cope not just with huge cuts in their budgets but also the inability to attract clinical staff to key areas resulting in a reduction or end to some services.

“Sadly, the two hospitals, while doing their best to deliver for our communities, are very much dated and are not as attractive an option for clinical staff as new complexes elsewhere.

“The Government’s decision to axe plans for a new hospital and instead patch up North Tees has to be a major contributory factor.”

A Department of Health spokesman responded: “We are absolutely committed to investing in hospital buildings where needed.

“The CQC’s rigorous inspection regime clearly identifies where areas of improvement are needed in our hospitals and this report does not raise concerns about buildings or facilities.

“North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust must now work closely with the regulators to urgently address the concerns raised, improve services and ensure consistent high quality care.”

Following the publication of the CQC report, which rated the trust as ‘good’ in 65 out of 85 individual ratings, the Royal College of Nursing said it was clear that staff were delivering the best they could with the resources they had.

However concerns about urgent and emergency services, medical and maternity care needed to be addressed, it said.

Hartlepool Councillor Ray Martin-Wells, who chairs the authority’s audit and governance committee, said he “questioned whether the trust had the ability to deliver the quality hospital and health care services we expect on a day-to-day basis”.