Worries over hospital plans

There are fresh concerns about the future of a north Northumberland hospital as managers admitted there would be radical changes in the way it is run.

Under the new plans, many services at Berwick Infirmary will have to be carried out at larger hospitals - such as Wansbeck - which will mean extra travelling for sick patients.

Even accident and emergency treatment may be affected because of changes to GPs contracts.

But Berwick Infirmary manager Isobel Wilson said the changes would not threaten the hospital's future.

Public support

Rumours about the hospital have been rife in the area for some time, especially since the closure of one of its wards.

Local people have expressed their concerns.

Peter Herdman is from the League of Friends of Berwick Infirmary, and is not happy with the proposals.

He said: "Berwick is a long way from everywhere and the public is very, very concerned that the newest measures mean that we will not the service that we have enjoyed or indeed that the elderly in Berwick demand.

"Had the public and people involved been taken along from day one and been told exactly what the route was then management would have found that the public was right behind them instead of being sceptical."