Campaigners, unions and councillors have condemned plans to close a ward in Bishop Auckland Hospital, branding the proposal “another nail in the coffin” for the site.
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) has proposed moving ward seven - the frailty unit - from Bishop Auckland to Darlington Memorial Hospital.
Under the plans, ward staff would move to roles in Darlington, but the trust - which runs both hospitals - insists there will be no job losses.
Bishop Auckland Hospital (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
The proposals are the subject of an internal consultation, but residents, councillors and unions have already criticised the move and called for wider discussions before it is finalised.
The GMB union, which represents staff at both hospitals, has vowed to fight the changes.
A spokesperson for the union said: "The suggested closure of ward seven at Bishop Auckland is a deeply flawed and dangerous proposition.
"It would not only threaten patient safety and jobs and lead to increased bed blocking, but would put the entire hospital at risk.
"We cannot have our local hospital so downgraded that it becomes unviable.
"For the good of the whole community, GMB will be opposing this closure every step of the way."
The trust wants the frailty service operating at Darlington Memorial Hospital by Christmas, but says it will fully evaluate the expanded service in spring using feedback from patients, families, carers and staff.
Suzie Foster, a Bishop Auckland resident and GMB North East, Yorkshire & Humber branch secretary, says she fears the changes will place extra pressure on family carers, including her elderly mother’s carers.
Suzie Foster, GMB North East, Yorkshire & Humber branch secretary (Image: GMB)
She added: "Older people deserve access to specialist care close to home. Removing this service will force vulnerable patients and their relatives to travel further, creating unnecessary stress, hardship, and expense.
"This is another nail in the coffin for Bishop Auckland Hospital."
Councillor Sam Zair, a former mayor of Bishop Auckland who campaigned to keep the town’s A&E department in 2009, says the latest move shows the trust’s “disregard” for patients and staff.
Cllr Zair criticised the lack of consultation over the ward move.
Sam Zair, councillor and former Mayor of Bishop Auckland (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
“Again we are being told by the trust that this is the best and only way forward and are committed to keeping services on our doorstep. I have heard all of this before,” he said.
"Fifteen years ago, I was told that I was scaremongering the public regarding closures of services and wards, including A&E. Here we are today and yet another ward and services are to be transferred to Darlington Memorial without public consultation.
"The trust will not be happy until there is just a hospital shell left. I can imagine that staff at both hospitals are not happy about this and should be listened to."
The trust says the move will create a seven-day frailty service at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
Dr Eliot Sykes, chief medical officer at CDDFT, said: “We are talking to our staff about these changes as part of our planning for the busy winter months ahead.
"We must make sure we look after the most vulnerable in society and avoid frail older people waiting hours in our busy Emergency Departments or being admitted to hospital when they don’t need to.
“Key to this is having the right specialists available 24/7 on both of our acute sites to assess, treat and support older people to recover and return home quickly. This can often be on the same day and without having to stay in hospital.
Bishop Auckland Hospital (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
“Hospitals are high-risk environments, and frail people can easily develop other problems the more time they spend there.
"We see people start to lose their muscle strength, mobility and, sadly, their confidence to remain independent. We don’t want this for anyone’s loved ones.”
The trust added that Bishop Auckland Hospital will keep its step-down care, specialist inpatient rehabilitation and frailty care for older people. It is also one of six surgical hubs across the North East and North Cumbria to receive national accreditation from the Royal College of Surgeons and Royal College of Anaesthetists in July this year.
Dr Sykes added: “These changes are not something people should fear. This is about improving how the NHS works to provide more care in the right place, in the right way.
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"Many older people do not need to be admitted to hospital, but that’s where they end up because we don’t have alternative pathways in place to look after them.
"This is the whole focus of the NHS 10-year plan and how we move more care out of hospitals into the community and people’s own homes.”
CDDFT also plans to move some wards within Darlington Memorial Hospital to make room for the new frailty facility.
The trust insists there will be no planned job losses, but some staff may change roles, wards or workplaces.