Care providers have hailed the plans which aim to tackle some of the Hartlepool's serious health problems as a "tremendous boost".

Leaders of Hartlepool Primary Care Trust approved the plans after they met to consider the results of a three-month consultation.

The new doctor's surgeries will offer new services and extended opening hours to help busy patients who work during the day.

The new health centre will be open seven days a week and as well as providing GP services will be open to anyone, whether they are registered as a patient or not.

Chris Willis, chief executive of Hartlepool PCT and Stockton on Tees Teaching PCT, said: "This is a tremendous boost for primary care provision and should improve access to GP services for the residents of Hartlepool.

"Coupled with the current consultation Momentum Pathways to Healthcare, the future of service provision across primary and secondary care for the people of Hartlepool, Stockton, Easington and Segdefield looks a lot brighter."

The health centre will be created in the town's Stranton ward which the PCT says is ranked in the top 55 areas of social deprivation in the whole country.

The number of adults out of work due to illness or disability in the ward is more than twice the national average at 14.06 per cent compared to 5.52 per cent.

One of the new GP practices is planned to go in the town's Throston ward and the second in the Fens, but no potential premises have been found yet.

The North East Strategic Health Authority will now work with the Department of Health and the PCT says the new services will be up and running by the middle of next year.

Four Primary Care Trusts across Teesside have been awarded £11m over the next three years as part of national NHS plans to create 150 GP-led health centres and 100 new GP practices in areas where they are needed most.

More than 5,000 patients across the region commented on the plans.