A PUBLIC meeting has been called to discuss the future of Bishop Auckland Hospital.

MP Helen Goodman is hosting the event for residents in her constituency to raise concerns and ask questions of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

The Trust has recently closed the breast screening service and midwife-led maternity unit at Bishop Auckland Hospital, followed by the closure of a ward in the Richardson hospital in Barnard Castle.

Hundreds of signatures were collected on a petition launched by Ms Goodman last year to reinstate the services at the hospital.

She said: “I have spoken to hundreds of local residents over the past few months and it is clear that there are continuing concerns about the future of services at Bishop Auckland Hospital.

“I want to ensure that those making the decisions on our health services understand the strong feelings about ensuring the future of locally-based services here in South West Durham.

“I hope that people will take this opportunity to ask questions of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.”

A spokeswoman for the NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are pleased to be attending the public meeting on Monday and have the opportunity to meet with our local populations around Bishop Auckland to share information about the services and care being delivered from Bishop Auckland Hospital.

“There have been changes to some of the services being provided at the hospital, but we are committed to its future and in terms of patient activity the hospital is busier now than it has been in previous years.

“We have made some significant investments in the operating theatres and a new state of the art training simulation centre at the hospital over the past year and look forward to sharing more detail at the meeting.”

The public meeting takes place at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, on Monday, January 18, at 6.30pm.

To register, or for more information, call Ms Goodman’s constituency office on 01388-603075 or visit helengoodman.org.uk.