HEALTH chiefs say they want the best possible quality of design for two hospitals they are building.

County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust and the Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) are commissioning a £40m project under the Private Finance Initiative to build a mental health hospital, on the outskirts of Durham City, and a new medical centre, in Stanley, by the end of 2008.

They held an open day attended by more than 20 building contractors interested in working on the developments and gave a brief on the outline designs for the two schemes.

The £23m mental health hospital will be on part of Durham's Earls House Hospital and will replace the city's outdated County Hospital, as well as the Allensford Ward, at the Derwent Clinic, Shotley Bridge.

It will have 65 beds, ward-based activity rooms and staff training facilities.

Stanley's £17m centre for primary care and services for children and young people will provide much-needed, modern accommodation for services currently in the town's health centre, South Moor Hospital and the Annfield Plain child development centre.

Two sites are being considered - the recently-demolished bus station and Thorneyholme Terrace car park.

Jo Turnbull, chairman of County Durham and Darlington Priority Services, said: "We are committed to ensuring we get the very best and this event gave us the opportunity to show our potential partners the high standard of design and build that we expect."

PCT chairman Peter Innes said: "This project is a key part of the PCT's strategy to improve health and reduce inequalities in health and we look forward to being able to provide local services in state of the art accommodation for the people of Stanley."

Companies interested in tendering will submit initial applications and the trusts will select a shortlist of three by the end of March.