SOUTH Durham people will be able to have their say on the improvement of a community hospital.

The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust is launching a two-month consultation exercise to find out what health care users want for the future of the 61-bed Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle.

The trust has been awarded £4.8m to refurbish the building - an issue which is considered as needing immediate attention.

Beds are primarily used for the care of elderly people, but the trust hopes local people will have their say on which services they want the hospital to provide for the next ten years.

Andrew Kenworthy, chief executive of the trust, told a meeting of Darlington and Teesdale Community Health Council this week that the public consultation process would start next Tuesday and continue until the end of November.