PLANS to cut the hours of the Consett area's minor injuries unit look likely to win important backing despite objections.

County Durham and Darlington Health Authority will be recommended on Thursday to support the North Durham, Health Care Trust's proposals for the unit at Shotley Bridge Hospital.

The trust wants to close the unit earlier in the evening because it says few patients use it late on.

The unit was set up as part of a controversial shake-up in 1996 that centralised accident and emergency care at Dryburn Hospital, Durham, where a new hospital for the whole of North Durham is being built.

Manned by nurse practitioners, it treats less serious injuries, freeing Dryburn for more serious cases.

The trust says an average of only 2.5 people per night use the unit after 8pm despite publicity campaigns to make people aware that it is there.

It wants to close the unit at 8.30pm each night - although staff will stay until 9pm for any late arrivals.

The x-ray unit at Shotley Bridge will close at 5pm as part of the plans and anyone needing emergency scans will be sent to Dryburn.

Durham County Council's executive committee is raising no objection to the reduced hours.

The Derwentside and Durham and Chester-le-Street primary care groups are backing the move as is the North Durham Community Health Council, which wants the reduced hours to be implemented as soon as possible.

Derwentside Primary Care Group is suggesting closer links between the unit and the out-of-hours GP service based at the hospital.

But Lanchester Parish Council has told the health authority that it is "deeply concerned" about the hours reduction and that the current opening times "are in the best interest of the local community and should be retained".

The Chopwell and Rowlands Gill Labour Party says it is strongly opposed to the move, saying there is still a need for emergency cover.

The party describes the reduced hours as a "further cut'' that could put the unit under threat.

A report to the health authority says: "We would make it incumbent on the trust to clearly explain what was happening and publicise the new arrangements.''