THE fate of a North-East hospital’s accident and emergency unit is being debated today.

A two-day review into plans to close the accident and emergency department at the University Hospital of Hartlepool started yesterday.

The review panel members are expected to make recommendations to decide the fate of the department.

The review was announced in October after members of Hartlepool’s Health Scrutiny Forum expressed concerns about the closure plans.

Midway through last year, bosses at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust announced proposals to close the Hartlepool A&E department as part of a plan to move most of the services to the recently opened £22m One Life health centre, in the town.

The controversy about where A&E services should be provided in the area led to a joint review between the Health Scrutiny Forum and the North-East Strategic Health Authority.

The review panel is chaired by NHS North East medical director, Stephen Singleton.

It is expected that the panel will give their initial comments at the end of today’s proceedings before producing a report including their recommendations.

A spokeswoman for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said the recommendations of the panel must be safe, acceptable, affordable and sustainable.