A COUNCILLOR has criticised NHS reforms after an injured man was taken 12 miles for treatment - even though the accident happened right outside his home-town hospital.

The accident outside the University Hospital of Hartlepool, but the victim was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton.

And last night, Hartlepool Councillor Geoff Lilley said the situation demonstrated the disadvantages of centralising specialist hospital services.

More than a year ago, officials at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust brought in controversial changes which downgraded the accident and emergency unit at the Hartlepool hospital.

As part of efforts to ensure that specialist services could be retained across the two-site trust, the hospital is now the main centre for planned operations, while emergency surgery is provided at North Tees hospital. This was in line with recommendations from NHS experts and the Government.

It meant that when firefighters cut free a man trapped in a car, after it crashed outside the Hartlepool hospital, on Tuesday, he had to be taken to the Stockton hospital.

The man, who had a suspected fractured pelvis, and a woman passenger, were transferred to the North Tees site because of rules that state seriously injured road accident victims can only be seen at North Tees.

Coun Lilley, who has consistently opposed the downgrading of services at Hartlepool hospital, was near the scene of the accident when it happened.

"It is a ridiculous situation. The guy was right outside the hospital, but had to be taken to North Tees," said the Hartlepool borough councillor.

"I accept the logic of specialist services, but the whole thing collapses like a pack of cards when something like this happens. It seems totally illogical."

A spokeswoman for the health trust said: "Because we had a service review, that was brought in last year, emergencies, trauma and orthopaedic services have been centralised at the University Hospital of North Tees.

"From December 14, last year, anyone who had a serious accident would be taken straight by ambulance to the University of North Tees. In the same way anybody suffering a head injury outside North Tees would be taken to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough."