HOSPITAL bosses have promised to take action after claims that 999 ambulances were delayed because of access problems.

Since the new £97m University Hospital of North Durham opened in April all ambulances have had to share the same restricted entrance.

This means front-line emergency vehicles have sometimes been boxed in when attempting to answer a 999 call.

Ray McDermott, spokes-man for the North-East Ambulance Service branch of the Unison health union, said: "It has created havoc and caused delays since the day the new hospital opened. The crews can't wait until it has all been sorted."

While Mr McDermott said the problem had not led to serious delays he said the situation was far from ideal.

A combination of a shortage of beds combined with a surge in demand means that the new, privately-financed NHS hospital has been struggling to cope.

This week, chief executive Stephen Mason called for a meeting with County Durham and Darlington Health Authority and local primary care groups to discuss what can be done about the hospital's lengthening waiting lists.

Meanwhile, hospital bosses say they can find no evidence to back Unison claims that patients had repeatedly had operations cancelled.

"If Unison has got any evidence, we would want to look at it," the spokesman said.

The ambulance access problem should be resolved later this month when separate entrances for 999 vehicles and passenger transport ambulances are opened, the spokesman added.