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19th February 2007

MP BACKS MOVES FOR NEW UNIT AT BISHOP AUCKLAND HOSPITAL

North West Durham MP, Hilary Armstrong has backed recommendations made by an Independent Report to create a new centralised haematology unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

Under the proposals, which now have the support of County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, inpatient haematology services for the South of Durham would be centralised at a new 7 bed unit at Bishop Auckland. This would mean the transfer of beds from existing unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital. Outpatient haematology services would be retained at both sites.

Now the Cabinet Minister has backed the plans in a letter sent to Darlington Borough Council’s Social Affairs & Health Scrutiny Committee. In her letter Ms Armstrong says;

“I appreciate changes to hospital services always causes some concerns and anxieties, especially as local communities are rightly proud of their own local hospitals. However, I am supportive of moves to create a single inpatient haematology unit for South Durham & Darlington at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

I understand one of the arguments made to support the Haematology unit being centred in Darlington is the amount of fundraising for the unit in the past. I am sure that members will remember the decision to locate the Special Care Baby Unit at Darlington Memorial. This was a very difficult and painful move for many people who had fundraised and supported the unit at Bishop Auckland for many years.

We had a very good Special Care Baby Unit at Bishop Auckland, but following the Darzi Review, we had to accept that the main unit would be centred at Darlington Memorial when re-configuration took place.

If there is not proper allocation of services to Bishop Auckland this will have a long-term detrimental effect on Darlington. The Darzi Review gave both hospitals a sustainable future, with a combination of local care and development of specialisms. I do not believe it is in anyone’s interests to disregard that review and work against the spirit of it.”

Darlington Borough Council’s Social Affairs and Health Scrutiny Committee is currently reviewing the proposals. At a meeting on Friday, the Chair of the Committee, Cllr Swift adjourned the meeting for two weeks in order to collate further evidence.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Local Health Scrutiny Committees have the power to refer any proposed changes to the Secretary of State for Health if they believe any changes represent a major variation in service.

2. These changes were recommended in the independent “Haematology and Chemotherapy Services Review (update) 2006” carried out by Dr Stephen Singleton, Medical Director of Northumberland, Tyne & Wear Stategic Health Authority. A copy of the report can be downloaded at: http://www.cddah.nhs.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F836C69B-85A3-418F-B053-5A0398357FB5/0/HaematologyReviewDrSingletonsReport2.doc

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