During an on-going review of health services by Hartlepool Borough Council, Labour councillor Jonathan Brash, said the "battle to save the hospital is over."

But councillor Geoff Lilley, who represents the Greatham ward, hit out saying: "I, like many others feel that it is still worth fighting for."

Coun Brash, who chairs the adult and community services and health scrutiny forum, told Tuesday's meeting that it was "irresponsible" to continue with an "old argument."

Coun Lilley's concerns were raised after he felt that the motion put forward by Labour councillors on February 8, saying they will "demand" that the government's decision over the hospital be "urgently reconsidered" has not been fulfilled.

He said: "Anybody who had been at that meeting on February 8 would have seen that notice of motion as being a clear indication that there was going to be a serious and urgent fight to stop services from being removed from Hartlepool, and a fight for the retention of Hartlepool Hospital."

Coun Brash, who represents the Burn Valley ward, responded: "We wrote both to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State asking for the decision to be reconsidered in light that it was the wrong decision.

"It has not been and I find it difficult to see what more can be done."

Instead he urged members at the scrutiny meeting, at West View Community Centre, to focus energies on improving existing services in the town.

Discussions are already underway over a possible new site for a hospital north of the Tees to replace Hartlepool's hospital and the University Hospital of North Tees. A site at Wynyard is being touted as one alternative.