SHOTLEY Bridge District Hospital does have a future, according to Hilary Armstrong, the MP for North-West Durham.

Fears that the community hospital will be closed were raised when it emerged a ward had been mothballed.

However, after holding talks with NHS bosses, Ms Armstrong has set about to reassure residents and patients.

"There is a future for Shotley Bridge Hospital," she said.

"Over the years, the nature of services provided may change, but it will still be necessary to offer them at Shotley Bridge."

Earlier this month, the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, confirmed that 19 beds on the hospital's ward four, formerly used for the rehabilitation of elderly patients, had been closed temporarily.

The trust said they were not being used enough, there were staff shortages and it remained "strongly committed" to meeting Derwentside's health needs.

However, two reports leaked to The Northern Echo by Councillor Owen Temple, a member of Derwentside District Council's minority Liberal Democrat group, suggest hospital bosses deliberately reduced demand for day surgery in order to justify its closure.

Ms Armstrong said: "I had a useful discussion with both the PCT (the County Durham Primary Care Trust) and Acute Trust.

"I am confident that both organisations recognised that services need to be provided in Consett.

"I did discuss with them why the number of patients had fallen.

"They gave me assurances that there had been no moves to encourage patients away from Shotley Bridge and that they are looking very carefully for reasons why the bed occupancy rate has fallen.

"I'll continue talking with the health trusts and the local councils about how we can all work together to get the right way forward to enable the people of Derwentside to get the very best health care."

Ms Armstrong held more talks on the future of the hospital at a meeting with leaders of Derwentside council last night

She said: "We all need to work together. We can't sort this out by people pulling in different directions."

A further meeting between councillors and hospital bosses is planned for Thursday.