Dehenna Davison accused of 'posturing' on Bishop Auckland A&E

Labour’s candidate, who will stand against Dehenna Davison MP in Bishop Auckland at the next general election, has said her campaign to reopen the town’s A&E department is a ‘distraction’ from her party’s record on the NHS.

Ms Davison this week launched a petition in her long-running campaign to reopen the emergency department which closed in 2009, but Sam Rushworth said he would not be signing the petition, despite saying he would ‘love’ an A&E back in Bishop Auckland.

Read more: Bid launched to reopen Bishop Auckland A&E after it shut in 2009

Mr Rushworth, who was only selected last month, told The Northern Echo: “The public may be wondering why twelve years into a Tory government, and nearly three years after being elected our Tory MP, Dehenna Davison has launched a petition to persuade herself and her colleagues in government to reverse a decision taken by the NHS Trust 13 years ago to close the A&E at Bishop Auckland.

“The answer, in my opinion, is that it is an exercise in harvesting voters’ contact details ahead of possible general election campaign; or to distract us from her party’s abysmal record on the NHS and the fact they have nothing to offer families across Bishop Auckland struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in over 70 years.

Rushworth was chosen as Labour's Bishop Auckland candidate last month.

“As a Bishop Auckland resident, I’d love it if the A&E was closer to home, but as Labour’s candidate at the next General Election, I want to be honest with people about the scale of the challenges we face and what I think our priorities should be.

“Since 2010, Dehenna Davison’s own party in government has sent the NHS into crisis – understaffed and underfunded - making an A&E in Bishop impossible without either a massive increase in trained staff across the NHS or creating a dangerous hole in provision elsewhere.

To get more stories direct to your email basket go here

"If I were the MP, my priorities would be quickly increasing capacity in the North East Ambulance Service; increasing training and recruitment of hospital staff to cut A&E waiting times back to the 4-hour target and get through the growing backlog of people waiting for operations; ending the morning lottery to get GP appointments; a properly-funded social care service that relieves pressure on hospital admissions; training and recruiting more mental health specialists; and reversing cuts to local public health budgets."

The A&E was closed in 2009 following a clinical review into services at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust after it was found there was insufficient clinical staff and essential support services required to support the department at the hospital.

The petition was launched at an event outside the hospital yesterday (August 10) and is set to be presented to the Integrated Care Board at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on September 15.

Dehenna Davison launched her campaign on Wednesday (August 10) outside Bishop Auckland hospital. Picture: DANIEL HORDON

Responding to the comments, Dehenna Davison said: “It is very disappointing the Labour candidate is not supporting the campaign to bring back our A&E, something our local community are right behind.

“Some things are bigger than politics and it’s disappointing he’d rather take part in petty political point scoring than working with me to deliver on what our community are asking for.

“The A&E closed under a Labour MP, a Labour Council, and a Labour Government, so perhaps their new local candidate is showing his true colours by refusing to back our A&E now.”

Read next:

• BBC Look North presenter Carol Malia forced off air due to cough
• Newton Aycliffe fire: Four families left without home after tower block fire
• West Auckland man used Snapchat to text girl, 13

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here