Hospital Casualty Closure Protests

HEALTH workers are protesting over plans to close accident and emergency services at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

They are lobbying the Durham and Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) board today in protest at the proposals.

The PCT board is considering plans to close this service, forcing patients from Bishop Auckland to travel either to Durham or Darlington for emergency treatment.

Unison regional officer Ian Daley said: “There is a real threat to the future of A&E services at Bishop Auckland hospital and we think that the public should be aware that this is a serious prospect which the trust board is considering.

“We have been talking to local MP Helen Goodman who is as concerned as we are about this threat as well as the whole future of the Bishop Auckland General Hospital.”

The trust has suggested that the A&E department could be replaced by a combined minor injuries unit and medical assessment centre, so anyone needing emergency treatment after 10pm would have to go to Darlington Memorial Hospital or the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City.

Mrs Goodman said: “This is very worrying news and I have already raised my concerns with NHS management.”

She said the trust’s case was based on the idea that an A&E department must have certain specialist doctors and surgeons available 24 hours a day and this could not be achieved because the population served is too low.

And she said it did not take into account the high levels of deprivation in the area and low car ownership.

A statement from the County Durham and Darlington trust said: “The review, led by doctors, is to make sure our hospitals offer the best care for patients over the next five years. Our doctors believe we need to make some changes to do this and to meet national quality standards.”

(c) 2008 The Journal – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.