HEALTH secretary Alan Milburn has approved the establishment of two new primary care trusts in the North-East.
The trusts, in Gateshead and South Tyneside, will be established from April and will be independent NHS organisations responsible for delivering better health and healthcare for their own populations.
Gateshead Primary Care Group acting chief executive Dr Helen Groom said: "This is wonderful news for Gateshead.
"It allows us to improve the services and health for local people by working as an organisation in our own right with our partners the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council and our local hospital."
South Tyneside Primary Care Group chairman Dr Bill Hall said: "A primary care trust in South Tyneside offers tremendous benefits for local people, patients and staff.
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