POLITICIANS have called on health bosses to let people know what they have in store for a community hospital with an uncertain future.

North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong and Derwentside District Council leader Councillor Alex Watson are concerned about what is going to happen to Shotley Bridge Hospital.

They have written to County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust to see if it can provide any answers.

It follows leaked reports that revealed hospital bosses deliberately reduced demand for day surgery to justify its closure.

The reports, by independent consultant Tribal, were circulated to members of the council and to senior NHS managers, but have not been made public.

Coun Watson said: "I know that local people want to see Shotley Bridge Hospital thrive and we, as a local council, want to be part of making the best of Shotley Bridge as a first-class community hospital."

There was an outcry from GPs and councillors when the trust first proposed closing the day surgery unit more than a year ago.

It deferred the planned six-month temporary closure of the day surgery at the hospital and agreed to do a viability study.

Ms Armstrong asked health chiefs to offer some reassurance to the community.

She said: "Alex and I have written to ask for a period of stability at the hospital and the involvement of staff and patients in a stakeholder group which is tasked with taking forward the positive ideas from the Tribal reports and turning them into real service improvements."

The hospital has 35,000 outpatient visits, 11,000 people are treated at the minor injuries unit and 20,000 x-ray and other radiology tests are carried out every year.

A spokesman for the trust said: "We are entirely committed to providing services in Derwentside for the people of Derwentside.

"There is a wide range of health services in Shotley Bridge, and a huge number of patients are treated here.

"We regret that speculation has arisen around Shotley.

"The Foundation Trust and County Durham PCT are committed to working with other partners to develop local services in Derwentside, and we are establishing a stakeholder group to take forward this work."

* The contentious issue is expected to be discussed at a council meeting at Consett Civic Centre on September 25.