A meeting on the future of a hospital’s A&E has been cancelled by an MP, as frustrated residents question whether the facility will reopen.  

Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison has campaigned to reopen the emergency centre in her constituency since she was elected in 2019 after it closed in 2009.  

The Tory MP campaign appeared to be taking a step closer earlier this week after she invited residents to a meeting on Friday to have their say on the proposal – a key talking point in the town.

But attendees were told the meeting had been cancelled on Friday morning after officials from the local health trust “pulled out” unexpectedly.

The hospital’s A&E was closed in 2009 and residents have been forced to travel 12 miles to either Darlington Memorial Hospital or University Hospital Durham for emergency care. It was closed after a clinical review into services at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust found there was insufficient clinical staff and essential support services required to support the department at the hospital.

Several meetings on the issue last summer were cancelled, raising fears locally that the campaign isn’t moving forward.

The Northern Echo: Reopening the facility has been a key election manifesto pledge of the MP's since 2019Reopening the facility has been a key election manifesto pledge of the MP's since 2019 (Image: The Northern Echo)

“The Back Bishop A&E campaign is the latest part of my work to fight for our A&E, and the meeting planned for tomorrow was a key part of the process,” Dehenna Davison said.

“It seemed like we might be able to make things work, until this week when they pulled out again a few days before we were due to meet. The timing is very unfortunate given how many people signed up to attend, and I completely sympathise with the disappointment that many of you will feel at not having the chance to have your views heard.”

A petition on the issue was launched in August 2022 and has since received 760 signatures.

Dehenna Davison MP added: “Whether you're in Stanhope, Startforth or Stanley, it's clear to see that reopening Bishop A&E is the best way to ease the pressure on Durham and Darlington and achieve an NHS in County Durham that works for everyone.

“While it's unfortunate that we've hit this hurdle, I have no doubt that in time our view will be shown to be the right one, and Bishop will get the facilities it needs and deserves.

The Levelling Up minister has instead travelled to Blackburn to appear on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Any Questions?’ programme to discuss recent levelling up funding after the A&E meeting was cancelled.

But some residents are frustrated at the lack of progress. Daniel Woolley said: “Would the trust even be able to fund another A&E when their funding is cut so much by the government and the inability to recruit due to skilled jobs not being valued enough to pay people a wage to survive on?

“It seems an inconsistent message that locally we want to increase services whilst cutting funding centrally to manage the service into an inoperable state?”

Paul Upton added: “Promise of 40 new hospitals not carried through and can't even get one that's already built fully operational.”

But the MP was supported by Alan Prudhoe, who said: “Absolutely unacceptable behaviour from the care board. Well done for keeping the pressure on.They can run but they cannot hide forever.”

Read next:

The Northern Echo: Residents in need of treatment have had to travel to Darlington Residents in need of treatment have had to travel to Darlington (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The County Durham and Darlington Trust said there are no current plans to reopen the A&E at Bishop Auckland.

“The Trust welcomes open discussions with all our local MPs, shares information regularly and accommodates as far as possible requests for further updates,” a spokeswoman said.

“Bishop Auckland Hospital is a valued facility providing a range of planned care services to people across County Durham and Darlington and will continue to play an important role in the future of local health and care services.

“A clinically-led review of services across County Durham and Darlington was carried out as part of the Seizing the Future Programme between 2007-2008 which included a public consultation. The review concluded that Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham were best-placed to retain A&Es due to the critical mass of activity available, staffing availability and that the sites had all the necessary essential support services in place to safely support an A&E and giving them an ability to deliver to national standards.

“Changes were made to services in October 2009 and this position remains unchanged.”