PLANS to relocate the inpatient haematology unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital to Bishop Auckland General Hospital should be of great concern to the public.

It is recognised there is a need to centralise the inpatient service to reduce clinical risk and attract consultant doctors, but how can this be possible when relocation isolates the unit from the back-up services these patients require?

Will relocating the unit away from important clinical links deter the recruitment and retention of consultants, registrars and specialist nurses?

As most treatment is now outpatient based, it goes without saying inpatients are therefore acutely ill. How will they be managed if specialist services are required? It is impossible to ignore close-by clinical links with other specialities.

The public should take note of this proposed relocation of the unit to a hospital with less clinical support as it will be too late if they have need for this specialist service in the future.

I am sure this proposal will have caused the staff at all levels, as well as patients, to become unsettled. It is hoped confidence can be restored without too much damage to this highly respected unit which was created with the funding of the people of Darlington - Name and address supplied.

SURELY the three Conservative candidates (HAS, some editions, Feb 24) should realise that in no way will Darlington MP and former Health Secretary Alan Milburn speak out for his constituents on the closure of the inpatient haematology unit at the town's Memorial Hospital.

Bishop Auckland General Hospital was Alan Milburn's baby.

Therefore, to save him ending up with egg on his face, I am not expecting any help from him or any of Darlington's Labour councillors.

I, along with several other people, attended the two consultation meetings during 2006 regarding transferring the inpatient ward to Bishop Auckland. To say the least, it was obvious the outcome was cut and dried. I am sure no thought was given to where most patients who needed the service live, or to which hospital they preferred.

Having been both an inpatient and now an outpatient of the Darlington ward and spoken to numerous fellow patients, none are in favour of the move. Even Teesdale patients prefer Darlington.

With regards to most of the patients in the small towns and villages in the A690 corridor, they also prefer to travel along the A690 to Durham for their treatment - AA Lawson, Darlington.