Occupational therapy jobs, nurse manager jobs and other health care roles will be created in the North-East as the Secretary of Health has approved funding for a new hospital to serve Hartlepool, Stockton-On-Tees, Eastington and Sedgefield.

The Hartlepool Mail reports that last week, Health Secretary Andy Burnham travelled to the County Durham town to announce the approval of £464m of funds for a new hospital at Wynward. Part of the government's 'Pathways to Health Care Programme,' the new development will boost health care services in the area and provide new employment opportunity for the area.

Currently the hospital is estimated to be around five years away from opening, following a two year procurement period and a three year building programme. Once finished, it will be managed by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

The chief executive of NHS Hartlepool, Chris Willis, said that the hospital was the "final piece of the jigsaw" in the trusts plans to integrate care services across the area. Like many public services and organisations, NHS Hartlepool is attempting to increase care and reduce costs by linking those in physiotherapy jobs with other providers of health care in the area.

Mr Willis said: "The whole aim of [the Pathways programme] is to bring services into or closer to people's homes and only provide what cannot be safely, efficiently and sensibly done elsewhere."

"The health service we are building will respond to these needs and will result in a much more accessible and responsive service for everyone."