NHS officials have declined to explain apparent delays to a move to reshape hospital services across the Tees Valley and parts of North Yorkshire and County Durham.

When asked to respond to councillors’ claims that a stalemate had developed between hospital consultants and NHS officials over staffing, North of England Commissioning Support issued a single sentence response that was similar to one it issued more than six months ago.

An NHS spokeswoman said: “Leaders and clinicians from County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, North Tees and Hartlepool Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are now working collaboratively to develop a clinical strategy with the aim of achieving and sustaining high quality hospital care for the people of Darlington, Tees, Durham, Dales and Easington, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby.”

In January, NHS North East and North Cumbria boss Alan Foster said accident and emergency would be retained for the foreseeable future at three general hospitals in the Tees Valley. Talking about the plans to change NHS services, he said there was “very much an intention to share this thinking as it develops”.

Councillor Jim Clark, chairman of North Yorkshire’s scrutiny of health committee, said the NHS needed to keep residents informed about debate to make changes to key services.