FEARS that the new Bishop Auckland hospital will not have a full range of services when it opens next year have been fanned by the announcement of a county-wide review of acute hospital services.

Health bosses have asked Professor Ara Darzi from Imperial College, London, to review all acute hospital services in County Durham and Darlington to enable the authority to meet tough NHS Plan targets.

The review, which will consider how to make best use of the three major hospitals in Durham, Bishop Auckland and Darlington, is needed as the NHS Plan will mean more operations will have to be carried out at the three sites.

There is also the expectation that the number of emergency admissions will increase.

Another factor being considered is the impact of reduced working hours for junior doctors, which is challenging traditional ways of running hospital departments.

Prof Darzi's task will be to advise on clinically sustainable options for services throughout County Durham.

There are concerns that this could lead to a greater centralisation of services in Darlington and the withdrawal of some existing services from Bishop Auckland.

A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington Health Authority said there was a need to enhance hospital services county-wide, taking account of available resources.

Recently Kevin Earley, the outgoing chairman of North Durham NHS Trust, provoked a major row by arguing that the £67m Bishop Auckland General Hospital was a white elephant which would have a limited range of services.

That view was rejected by Health Secretary Alan Milburn during a recent visit to his Darlington constituency.

During that visit Mr Milburn told The Advertiser's sister paper The Northern Echo: "One thing I can promise is that Bishop Auckland is going to be a very well used hospital."

Construction work at the Bishop Auckland hospital is now completed and the internal fitting out has begin.

Ken Jarrold, the health authority's chief executive, said: "The review will allow us to make sure that our acute services are fit for the future."

Prof Darzi expects to complete his review by the end of January 2002. Any significant changes to services will be subject to full public consultation.

Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster said: "We want the fullest range of hospital services delivered locally."

David Woodhead, chief officer of North Durham Community Health Council, warned that any attempt to take away services in the north of the county would be resisted