DARLINGTON’S MP is calling for volunteers to join her in campaigning to protect services at Darlington Memorial Hospital (DMH).

Scores of concerned people turned out to the launch of Jenny Chapman’s campaign last Saturday, May 7.

It was established in the wake of persistent rumours about the fate of A&E, maternity and ITU services at DMH.

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) and those behind the Better Health programme recently confirmed services are being discussed amid a wider debate about how to deliver better standards and delivery of care across the region in future years.

Both parties insist no decisions have been made and will not be until the conclusion of a public consultation period.

However, campaigners suspect possible changes made under Better Health could eventually result in a downgrade of the hospital's A&E, maternity and ITU departments.

Ms Chapman is urging the public to make their voices heard and is asking the authorities to respond fully and transparently to concerns.

By launching her campaign during Better Health’s public engagement period, the MP believes the public can shape the debate.

Criticising the trust and Better Health for a “dire communications strategy”, she said: “I’m not saying that’s deliberate, but it’s not helpful when we’re talking about decisions of this size.

“They’re failing the public and we need to be clear – we’re not having that, they need to keep us properly informed.”

She added: “This hospital is a big part of my life – my parents worked there, my children were born there, my father and my grandmother died there.

“It’s a big part of all of our lives, it’s there at crucial moments and it’s vitally important that we keep services here in Darlington – it means something to us.

“This is not an academic issue, it’s something we all feel very deeply about and we can influence it if we do it right.

“We, as a community, need to tell them what we think before they come up with their formalised options – we are going to talk and they must listen.”

Campaigners plan to use a variety of methods to spread their message across Darlington and are appealing for volunteers to join them.

To get involved, call Ms Chapman's office on 01325 382345.

Better Health will hold a public engagement meeting at the Mercure Kings Hotel in Darlington on Tuesday, May 10 from 5pm.