STAFF at an under-fire hospital have raised concerns after its sterilisation unit was flooded last week.

The deluge - which temporarily left the unit out of action - is the latest incident where water has seeped into the building, it was claimed yesterday.

Apart from claims that the basement unit is prone to flooding, there is also concern over leaks that have plagued the £97m University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, since it opened last April.

In one ward, a sideroom cannot be used because the roof leaks every time it rains.

Damp patches have also been seen on ward ceilings, despite the state-of-the-art hospital being barely a year old.

One nurse, who asked not to be identified, said: "If it was my house, I would be thinking about suing the builders - this is a new hospital."

Flash floods that hit Durham last Wednesday seriously disrupted the hospital's central sterilisation department.

Flood water forced its way through doors and flowed into an area where surgical equipment is prepared for use.

"The staff were knee to waist high in water. The water was running down the bank, the drains simply couldn't take it," said Richard Elliott, secretary of the North Durham branch of the health service union Unison.

The water damage meant that the whole area had to be re-sterilised before it could be used again.

"Something needs to be done. It is not the first time they have experienced flooding problems. They have had water trickling in before and that was after it rained for a few days," he said.

Mr Elliott said there was a lot of concern about recurring leaks around the hospital.

"I know there have been problems. A brown patch recently appeared on the ceiling above where I work," he said.

Kevin Walker, spokesman for Consort, the firm that built and maintains the privately-financed hospital, said: "We are aware of a particular problem on one of the side wards on the top floor, and we are doing everything we can to get to the bottom of it.

"We are not aware of any reoccurring problems in the sterilisation department, but if staff have any concerns they should report it."

He said is was thought other damp problems were caused by condensation "which typically comes from chilled water supplies or air conditioning units".

He said: "The building is an asset we are very proud of and we want to maintain it to the highest possible standards."