Letters to Tony Blair from readers of the Evening Gazette have pulled in a health exclusive for the north-east paper.

In his replies he revealed a new bone marrow transplant unit was being proposed for the Middlesbrough area, as well as a specialist eating disorder service.

Readers were invited to put pen to paper because of the imminent general election, and quiz the PM on important issues.

He responded personally to ten items chosen to be sent to Downing Street.

He was asked why, when Teeside had one of the worst cancer rates in the UK, there was no bone marrow transplant unit.

Mr Blair replied that discussions were underway and a small unit could be set up – albeit 18 months in the future.

He also said he understood how eating disorders were a particular problem on Teeside, and that he knew things were made difficult with the nearest specialist clinic being in Newcastle.

He told readers: “Tees Health Authority has recently set up a local group to consider whether a specialist eating service should be based on Teeside.”

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