A MEETING is being held to discuss the future of urgent care facilities at Bishop Auckland Hospital.

The meeting has been called by Labour councillors from the Crook and Willington area to give people a chance to have their say on the future of services.

It will be opened by North West Durham MP Pat Glass and a representative from Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield NHS clinical commissioning group (CCG) is also expected to attend to answer people’s questions.

The CCG has said it is reviewing services but it is not yet known what proposals are being made in regard to urgent care. A consultation is expected to take place in March.

On Saturday Labour councillors took a petition against the closure of the walk-in centre to the streets of Crook.

Willington councillor Fraser Tinsley said: “We had over 150 signatures so there’s a lot of interest in this.

“People want to make them aware that the want to see it maintained as a facility, not just for Bishop Auckland but for this area as well.

“It’s a really important facility. If they were to close it there would be no emergency care west of the A167 so it’s a huge issue for this area.”

The meeting is following one held by Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman in the town in January.

It will be held at the St Catherine’s Community Centre in Crook market place at 9.30am on Saturday, February 20.