The future of the University Hospital of Hartlepool has become the most controversial issue in the war of words between political parties in the town's by-election run-up.
Labour have accused the Lib Dems of scaremongering over the hospital's fate, quoting Bryan Hanson, chairman of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, as saying there was no intention to close the town hospital.
The claim led to reports that plans to close Hartlepool's hospital and the University Hospital of North Tees - to be replaced by one single new hospital North of the Tees - had been shelved.
But Mr Hanson today confirmed that while there were no current plans for the closure, the long-term aim was still to replace the two current hospitals with one new site.
Asked today if he could rule out the long-term closure of Hartlepool's hospital, to be replaced with a single new site north of the Tees, Mr Hanson said: "I would not rule it out. That's the direction we are aiming for.
"In the meantime we have to make sure our services are the safest and the best."
Political arguments are already raging over the hospital with both the Lib Dems and now Labour pledging to protect services at Hartlepool.
Dr Evan Harris, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, spent four days analysing reports from the Tees Review.
He concluded the documents made it plain that in the short to medium term the plan was to downgrade services in Hartlepool such as paediatrics, obstetrics, emergency surgery and trauma.
Lib Dem candidate Jody Dunn today called for a public meeting to explain the plans - and challenged her political rivals to an open debate.
She said: "The fact is the Labour Party have ignored the warning signs, they have been complacent and they have let Hartlepool down.
"This is a battle for which the Liberal Democrats and the Save our Hospital Campaign Group have been preparing for many years now."
Labour candidate Iain Wright has accused the Lib Dems of frightening people over the hospital's future.
But he has been quoted as saying: "I'm going to make sure it isn't downgraded or moved out of town."
He told the Hartlepool Mail yesterday: "My wife is pregnant. She has had all our children in the general.
"She is going to have our new one in the general.
"I have got a real vested interest."