Durham County Council has issued a passionate plea for the NHS to improve health services in the region amid concerns over cuts and underfunding.
NHS officials and the Government have been urged to reverse the overnight closure of Shotley Bridge Hospital’s UTC and fund a new Accident and Emergency Department at University Hospital of North Durham.
Earlier this month, the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust extended the UTC’s overnight closure until 2026 due to ongoing difficulties in recruiting staff.
The Trust said it made the decision not to staff the night shift, between 12am-8am, to protect daytime care.
But residents have warned it will remove local access to urgent care and place further pressure on other NHS services in the region.
A motion, tabled by Reform member Kenny Hope at a full council meeting, read: “The closure of the UTC overnight represents an unacceptable reduction in urgent healthcare access for residents of Consett and surrounding communities.
“This will place additional pressure on regional hospitals, exacerbate health inequalities, and is inconsistent with the NHS’s duty to provide comprehensive health services under the National Health Service Act 2006.
“Urgent action is required from both central Government and the NHS to address staff shortages, ensure adequate local healthcare provision, and safeguard patient safety.”
NHS officials continue to recruit Advanced Nurse Practitioners to support the service, with one recently recruited. However, three staff members are set to leave, meaning the trust cannot safely staff the service overnight.
During the initial closure from July to September, the Trust confirmed an average of one patient was referred to University Hospital North Durham from the Shotley Bridge area, and there had reportedly been no incidents or complaints related to the temporary closure.
Yet, Durham County Council agreed to call upon central Government, the Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS leadership to immediately reconsider and reverse the overnight closure of the UTC at Shotley Bridge Hospital, and to restore a 24-hour service without delay.
The motion also detailed plans to request that the NHS prioritise the recruitment and retention of ANPs, offering competitive remuneration and incentives to ensure the service remains sustainable.
The plea was amended after an initial motion by the Liberal Demcorats, and was unanimously backed by all councillors. Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes said: “It’s important that, as a council, we are collectively sending a message to the government that NHS services matter in this county.
“We have really serious issues where, over many years, local hospitals have been shut down and services have been reduced. We have had promises that haven’t come to fruition.”
Councillors also warned that the proposed 16-bed hospital at Shotley Bridge is a significant shortfall in provision and fails to meet local need when measured against international standards.
The motion added that the authority will “urge the Government and the NHS to reassess and increase the bed allocation for the new Shotley Bridge Hospital to meet the healthcare needs of the people of Consett and surrounding areas.”
The County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust did not respond to a request to comment.