HEALTH professionals have expressed major worries over a private clinic that is offering separate measles, mumps and rubella injections for North-East children.

Concerned parents have been swamping Darlington's private Woodlands Hospital for the separate injections amid fears over the triple MMR vaccine available on the NHS.

More than 500 families have already signed up - in less than a week.

But members of Darlington Primary Care Group are concerned that the clinic, where the London-based Direct Health 2000 organisation is holding the sessions, is sending out the wrong message to North-East families.

Some fear that parents could be putting their children at risk by opting for the single vaccines instead of the MMR injection.

At a board meeting yesterday, health professionals spoke of their concerns that the organisation was going against Government recommendations.

Dr Ken Snider, of Tees Health Authority said: "The vaccination has been given in millions of doses all over the world. All the scientific evidence shows triple vaccinations are okay.

"It is clear that parents have the right to choose. However, our view as health professionals is that children are at an increased risk by not being immunised by the triple vaccine.

"It will affect the health of the population of children in Darlington and elsewhere"

Thousands of parents have opted out of the national vaccination programme because of fears of side effects such as autism and bowel disease.

Hilary Clarkson, of County Durham and Darlington Health Authority, said: "I don't think you can minimise the amount of anxiety this has raised among parents about vaccines in general."

Dr Hilton Dixon, a Darlington GP, said: "I have major worries about what is happening."

Board members have called for the group's chairman, Dr Richard Harker, to meet representatives about their concern.

Members will also produce factual information on the MMR vaccine to be presented to them.

A spokeswoman for Direct Health 2000 said: "This is the first time a Primary Care Group anywhere in the country has asked to meet with us and I suspect it is because it is in Alan Milburn's constituency and close to Tony Blair's.

"We would absolutely welcome a meeting with them so long as the Press can attend. We have seen no scientific evidence to say that the MMR vaccine is 100 per cent safe.

"We also offer the MMR injection as well as the separate vaccines but the fact is parents do not want it.