A radical change to the way primary health care is provided in Craven will not affect the future of Airedale Hospital, according to health chiefs.

Craven Primary Care Group, which oversees the provision of primary health services, including GPs, wants to become part of a new primary care trust covering the Craven and Harrogate districts.

It says the proposed merger is the only realistic way of improving health services for people in Craven.

However, directors at Airedale Hospital have voiced concerns that the link up with Harrogate could lead to fewer health services being provided locally.

If the proposed Craven and Harrogate and Rural District PCT receives the go-ahead next April the new body will take control of community nursing currently managed by Airedale Hospital.

It would have greater financial flexibility and would maintain the PCGs ability to purchase secondary health care from local hospitals.

Chairman of Craven PCG, Dr Julian Allen, and Dr Ron Nixon, chairman of Harrogate and Rural District PCG, have emphasised the commitment to maintaining hospital services locally.

Dr Dixon said: "We are different communities with our own distinct identities and needs. Patients from Craven will not go to Harrogate, or vice versa, at the whim of a new PCT."

Dr Allen added: "The reality is that these proposals will improve local services, including the development of services in Skipton General Hospital."

Health chiefs at Airedale Hospital have lobbied Craven PCG to join with Airedale Primary Care Trust to maintain the strong geographical and professional ties that have been developed over the years.

Airedale NHS Trust chief executive Robert Allen said: "We have told North Yorkshire Health Authority that we won't actively support the current bid, but we will look at the document before resolving our position.

"We think the option to become a separate PCT is more appropriate than the merger between Craven and Harrogate."

North Yorkshire Health Authority says a merger of Craven and Airedale is not on the cards because of government guidelines, which state that PCTs cannot straddle local authority boundaries.

Setting up an independent Craven PCT is also not feasible as the area's population of between 50-60,000 is too small and the cost of setting it up would be prohibitive.

Dr Allen said: "The cost of administering a Craven PCT would have come out of the overall budget for providing patient care.

"If we join with Harrogate and Rural District there is an economy of scale and the residents of both areas will benefit by being able to spend more of our resources on patient care."

A three-month public consultation into the formation of the new PCT has been launched and the outcome will be reported to North Yorkshire Health Authority when it meets in October.

It will then make a recommendation to the regional office and Secretary of State for Health.

If the recommendations are approved the new Craven and Harrogate PCT will come into existence in April 2002.

Copies of the consultation document are being sent to a wide range of interested parties and can be obtained from Emma Thomas at Harrogate and Rural District PCG on 01423 553513.