PLANS to scrap inpatient services at a hospital leukaemia unit will come under the spotlight next week.
An independent review into the future of haematology and chemotherapy services in County Durham recommended closing the inpatient unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
This has been controversial because the unit opened after a fundraising campaign raised £300,000 in the late 1980s.
Darlington Borough Council's social affairs and health scrutiny committee is to discuss the independent review on Thursday.
The review was carried out by Dr Stephen Singleton, medical director at Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority, who visited Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital in Durham to talk to staff and patients.
He recommended centralising services at Bishop Auckland, but keeping outpatient care at all sites.
Councillor Heather Scott, a member of Darlington Borough Council's health scrutiny committee and the former chairwoman of the leukaemia unit appeal, has vowed to fight plans to downgrade the unit to a day case centre.
Dr Singleton said in his review: "The inpatient issue is very important, highly emotive and controversial and has been subject to debate for seven years or more.
"Actually it may have been a distraction to the pursuit of a clear vision for haematology services in the trust, which have the potential to be the best available anywhere."
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