Traffic blunder hits Cramlington hospital plan

But plans for the new accident and emergency centre aim for it to be up and running by 2012, by which point the nearby A19 will have to cope with extra traffic generated by the opening of the second Tyne Tunnel.

It raises the prospect of ambulances being held up in queues at the roundabout, where the A19 meets the A189 spine road.

Members of the region's interim transport board, which sets the list of road improvements for the next decade, say they were not told about the hospital when they agreed a timetable for spending £540m.

Northumberland Council deputy leader Roger Styring, who sits on the transport board, confirmed it was not brought before them during final negotiations on where to spend the cash.

He said: "I don't think at present there is a major problem on the Moor Farm roundabout, the traffic lights are doing a good job there and we expect the A&E to generate less traffic then perhaps a hospital would.

"But the problem will come when we have the new Tyne Tunnel and then you can see a situation where ambulances will have to find an alternative routes and avoid rush hour traffic."

Government transport officers based in the region said the issue of a new hospital near the roundabout "certainly was not discussed" at the meeting, although they added that this could mean the Highways Agency has no objections.

Board members say it is impossible to judge what changes would have been made to the region's wishlist if they had being informed about the hospital.

When the Department for Transport signed off the list it said work developing the case for the Moor Farm roundabout would be suspended, a situation transport bosses are hoping to challenge.

Regional minister Nick Brown has already started putting pressure on DfT officers in a bid to ensure A19 upgrades are not delayed. He has said in his view there is no suspension, but development work may not be happening as fast as needed.

Mr Brown chaired the final meeting of the board and said at no point did anyone in the NHS raise the potential traffic problems linked to the new hospital.

No planning application has being submitted, and the likely location for the hospital has yet to be agreed.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust insisted they had not missed their chance to secure road improvements. She said: "Throughout this process we have liaised closely with the appropriate highway and public transport authorities and will continue to do so as our plans develop."

The Highways Agency said they are in "early stages of pre-application discussions" with hospital staff and would work through the issues before an application is submitted.

THE PLANS

Plans to build the emergency care hospital have been backed by health bosses - but cannot be given the green light until important issues are resolved.

The NHS North of Tyne commissioning board met last week to discuss a three-month consultation on plans for hospital services in the region.

Commissioners supported the proposals but said further discussion was needed regarding provision of maternity care and the siting of the hospital.

In the £200m project, health chiefs want to transfer all serious emergency care cases from North Tyneside and Wansbeck general hospitals to the new centre near Moor Farm roundabout.

Serious emergency care, consultant-led maternity services and special care baby units would be moved from the two hospitals to the acute care site.

A further £125m would be spent upgrading North Tyneside and Wansbeck general hospitals in the 10-year plan, while community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle would be rebuilt, alongside work already under way on improving other community facilities.

The commissioning board has not set a deadline for the issues to be resolved.