01.04.19
Consultation on north west Durham’s health services considers closing ‘not fit for future’ community hospital
NHS chiefs in north west Durham have launched a consultation around plans to overhaul health services in the region which could see the local community hospital closed and a new medical centre created.
The plans could see Shotley Bridge Hospital close, with some care shifted to the University Hospital North Durham – but the CCG’s chiefs hope that most services will be offered from a new purpose-built medical centre.
Funding has already been earmarked for the facility in north west Durham, but there also a number of different ideas for inpatient beds and GP services.
NHS North Durham CCG has launched an eight-week engagement period running until 22 May into the plans, mainly focusing on the services currently provided at Shotley Bridge Community.
The Durham CCG has faced calls to close the facility, which costs around £2.8m a year to run, in the wake of a damning report from the CCG’s corporate director which declared the hospital’s functionality and condition “not fit for future.”
A campaign was launched two years ago to protect the hospital from closure, but the CCG has stressed its commitment to “re-provide the majority of services from a new purpose-built facility.”
The CCG’s preference is for outpatient, chemotherapy and diagnostic services to continue from the new facility, and endoscopy and theatre services moving to the University Hospital of North Durham.
Two plans for urgent care had been suggested, continuing a 24-hour GP and nurse practitioner service or reducing this to 8am-midnight alongside home visits between midnight and 8am.
Ian Davidson, GP and clinical lead for the CCG, said: "We are really keen in this initial engagement phase to talk to people about our vision for the future of health services in North West Durham and while we have talked at this early stage about our preferences, I must stress that no decisions have been taken about what those services will look like yet.”
He said the consultation was “just the beginning” of the overhaul and will help the CCG understand local residents’ issues and priorities.