MANAGERS of a new £67m hospital have defended claims that it cannot offer adequate care for seriously-ill patients.

According to a report by independent experts, the Royal College of Physicians, acutely ill patients should not be admitted to hospitals which do not have five vital services. Bishop Auckland General Hospital fails to meet the criteria as it does not have resident anaesthetic cover.

But John Saxby, chief executive of South Durham Health Care NHS Trust, said the hospital has not had the service for 11 years and feels the level of healthcare has never been compromised.

He said: "We have not had that service at Bishop Auckland since 1991 although we feel it has not been to the detriment of our patients. However, we have noted the findings of the report and can say that that one issue is one of the main issues within the proposals we are still consulting over."

A spokesperson for the RCP said: "Resident anaesthetic cover is a service we feel is as equally important to the provision of top healthcare as an A&E department or an intensive care unit.

"We would not want to discuss specific hospitals but hope the report, Isolated Acute Medical Services, acts as a guideline to the facilities we feel are necessary to give the best possible care to seriously-ill patients."

Political campaigners opposed to proposals for the restructuring of County Durham hospitals hope that the report's findings will force a rethink over the plans.

Surgeon Prof Ara Darzi proposed that Bishop Auckland Hospital would become a centre for elective surgery for hip and knee replacement joints, urology and other surgery. Obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics and the special care baby unit from Bishop Auckland would be centralised at Darlington.

The North Durham hospital would specialise in angiography and vascular surgery.

Carol Woods, chair of Durham City Liberal Democrats, said: "Lots of people are concerned about many issues relating to the proposals and I hope that RCP's report makes people think more carefully about the level of healthcare local people deserve.

"I believe Bishop Auckland Hospital fails now and probably would do if the proposals were introduced to meet the RCP's guidelines and that is not acceptable."