PATIENTS at a doctors surgery in Hartlepool are being assured they will be properly cared for after the practice made the decision to reduce patient numbers.

From November 6, Doctors Stoney, Downs, Smith and Heggs, based at the Health Centre in the town's Victoria Road, will no longer be able to care for about 2,000 of their patients because of difficulties in recruiting another GP.

Arrangements have been made with three other practices and patients are advised to register there.

Drs Juhasz and Awad, at the West View Millennium Surgery, Brus Corner, will cater for patients north of Hart Lane. They can be contacted on (01429) 866600.

Drs Omer, Thakur and Kamar, at 113 Durham Street, will look after patients from The Headland, West View and Hart. They can be contacted on (01429) 288100.

Dr Singh, at 35-37 Wynyard Road, will look after people between Hart Lane and Easington Road. His telephone number is (01429) 223195.

A spokeswoman for the Tees Health Authority said: "Patients have to approach the doctors for their area.

"Unfortunately this has to be done because the practice was finding it hard to recruit another GP."

Councillor Reuben Atkinson, who has been a patient at the surgery for 23 years, said he felt like the patients had just been thrown on the scrapheap.

He said: "I am very irate about this. The Government promised us more money for the NHS and GPs - and what happens? We have to find a new one."

The spokeswoman said: "In cases of emergency, treatment for patients that are not registered with a doctor can be provided from any GP who provides NHS services."

NHS Direct (freephone 0845 4647) will provide details of all Hartlepool doctors contracted with Tees Health Authority.

If patients have difficulty in registering with a doctor, they should call (01642) 304108