A CAMPAIGN has been launched to fight the closure of a rural County Durham surgery and call for improved healthcare for villagers.

Trimdon Parish Council this week unanimously agreed to work with members of the public to help secure the future of medical services in Trimdon Village.

The emergency meeting was held on Wednesday following the closure of Skerne Medical Group’s branch surgery the same day.

Last week the estimated 1,600 patients were informed of the “temporary closure” which staff at the group said was due to difficulties recruiting GPs.

Councillors are concerned about its long-term future following closures of health centres elsewhere in the region which came after the doors were closed temporarily.

Leader of the council, Cllr Paul Trippett, said: “Everybody was very concerned about the temporary closure and that it may turn into a permanent closure.

“We agreed that we don’t want to fight just the temporary or permanent closure but that we want to campaign for better primary health care services in Trimdon Village.”

The council wants it to re-open, wants more suitable premises and a fully-staffed, five day a week service.

The campaign will be “dictated by the people of the village” and views will be sought at a public meeting at 7pm on Monday at Bluebell Meadow Primary School, on Elwick View.

The clinical commissioning group (CCG) and Skerne Medical Group have been invited.

Last Friday Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson met with the CCG and practice bosses to seek assurances over its future.

He will raise the issue in the House of Commons on Wednesday. “It is not just an issue in the Trimdons but all over the county and country,” said Mr Wilson. “There seems to be a crisis in GP provision and it’s not good enough in the 21st century.”

There are fears the surgery could follow in the footsteps of other NHS health services in the region which shut permanently following a temporary closure.

In Thirsk, North Yorkshire, the Lambert Memorial Hospital closed in October last year despite pleas from the public and politicians. It was first closed temporarily in September, 2015, as South Tees NHS Trust said it could not recruit nurses to work there.

And in The Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, maternity and children’s services in recent years were downgraded due to a shortage of doctors with the required range of skills.

However, the hard work of community campaigners has paid off elsewhere in County Durham. Ferryhill and Chilton Medical Practice were able to move from outdated premises in Chilton to a purpose built health centre in November 2015 after a long community campaign.

Neil Bunney, practice manager at Skerne Medical Group, said last week the temporary closure was a last resort in “unprecedented circumstances” and patients would be able to access services at its other branches in the Sedgefield area.