RUMOURS that a surgical ward at a Co Durham hospital may close are still circulating despite efforts by hospital bosses to end speculation.

Ten out of 25 beds on a surgical ward at Bishop Auckland General Hospital were closed in May and nursing staff transferred to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Staff were told that the measure was temporary, but it is understood that none of the transferred staff have returned to Bishop Auckland.

Now there are further question marks about the remaining ten beds and nurses are concerned about their jobs.

Officials confirmed that a meeting to discuss the future of the remaining beds at Bishop Auckland hospital's ward nine took place last Thursday but the outcome has not been revealed.

The status of major surgery at the Bishop Auckland site was undermined by a report by leading health expert Professor Ara Darzi, which was published three years ago.

Prof Darzi recommended that major surgery should be transferred from Bishop Auckland to Darlington as part of efforts to make hospital services more viable in Bishop Auckland, Darlington and Durham.

Trust officials have said no definite decision has been taken, but confirmed that the ward was under-used and one option being considered was to move patients to a neighbouring ward.

It is understood that if ward nine closes, patients recovering from surgery would be cared for in what is currently a day care unit that does not have separate male and female toilets. A trust spokesman said: "The Darzi report, published in 2002, recommended moving major surgery from Bishop Auckland General Hospital to Darlington Memorial Hospital. Inevitably this would have an impact on our major surgery ward at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

"Our latest figures suggest that, despite short waits for surgery at Bishop Auckland, this ward is not heavily used. One option under consideration would be to move patients to a nearby ward where facilities are entirely appropriate for patients undergoing major surgery. However, we should stress that no final decision has been made."

Carol Briggs, chairwoman of the trust's Patient and Public Involvement Forum, said: "We are working with the trust to ensure that patients get the best service.

"A lot of major surgery is no longer done at Bishop Auckland and I have been assured that if any decision is made we would be involved."