Retired Darlington solicitor Nigel Boddy has launched an online petition on the 38 Degrees website to SAVE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY IN DARLINGTON. The NHS is currently looking at its regional services, and is publishing draft ‘Sustainability and Transformation Plans’ (STPs) for different areas of the country. A draft STP has been published for our local area (which stretches from Wearhead to Whitby – see map) which you can read here: bit.ly/DSTPST The STP says a lot of good things about preventing ill health, and improving the quality of care in our communities and hospitals. It confirms James Cook Hospital as a specialist and major trauma hospital. However, the STP is also proposing to downgrade EITHER Darlington Memorial OR North Tees Hospital, from a ‘specialist emergency hospital’, to merely a ‘local hospital’ … which would mean losing its A&E, acute surgery and maternity. Newton News believes it would be a local disaster if we should lose Darlington’s specialist services, including Darlington’s A&E, and have to go instead to James Cook. Nor is it just about increased travel times. How would North Tees and James Cook cope with increased numbers of patients – and has anyone assessed how the hospital car parks, and the local road systems, will cope with the additional traffic?
It is for this reason that local MPs Phil Wilson and Jenny Chapman have been out campaigning to make people aware of the danger to Darlington A&E, and to mobilise support against the changes. Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson commented: “At this time, given pressures on existing A&Es it seems ludicrous to consider closing one. The possibility that the closure of the A&E in Darlington could lead to the loss of the consultant
led maternity in Darlington would be a huge blow to my constituents who use these much needed services. It is clear this is primarily being done for financial reasons and not in the best interest of patients.” Local councillor John D Clare, who marched last October to protest against the proposed changes, told the Newton News: “Only this government could suggest that the answer to the A&E crisis is to close the local A&E. Neither must we let this divide-and-rule government twist this into a contest between Stockton and Darlington, each trying to save their own local hospital. We must unite to demand an STP which has at its heart patients’ needs, not saving money”. Darlington MP Jenny Chapman does not want to wait until the STP is finalised, and then have to campaign if Darlington’s A&E is named for closure – she wishes to influence the STP now while it is being written. This makes sense. If you want to get involved to save Darlington A&E: • The NHS is currently holding a second series of consultation events, and there is time to register for the Sedgefield meeting on 23 February: bit.ly/NHSBHP23217 • You can sign Nigel Boddy’s petition here: bit.ly/38SDAE
