A PUSH to promote services is the latest strategy to combat problems at at an under-used community hospital.

Fears over the future of the Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle, were heightened last July when the Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) revealed that the future of the facility is being reviewed alongside other community hospitals in County Durham and Darlington.

Representatives from the town council and the Friends of Richardson Hospital have since met with representatives from the CCG and CDDFT in a bid to find solutions to the problems the hospital faces and alleviate fears the facility - which opened in 2007 and cost £10million - will close.

At the latest Barnard Castle Town Council meeting on January 22, Councillor Judi Sutherland, reported to councillors how the top floor of the hospital is now empty following the closure of the Lowson ward in 2015.

Councillors also heard how the remaining Starling ward, during December, was under-capacity for 15 days, at capacity for 17 days and over capacity for seven days.

Cllr Sutherland said bed blocking in acute hospitals could be alleviated by using the Richardson but many patients were not from Teesdale and therefore would not be sent there.

She also raised concerns about patients having to travel to outpatient appointments in Darlington and Bishop Auckland despite the same services being available at the Richardson and many not even being aware the clinics existed.

She said: “We are pushing them to get more information out there and have posters in GP surgeries to make people aware of the services available.”

Secretary for the Friends, Iris Hillery, said the building was fit for purpose and the Friends were now making posters to advertise the services available.

Mrs Hillery said: “It’s important to remember that it’s the services, not the building which are important.

“We are participating in discussions and are very appreciative of the support of the town council. We want people to understand better what is already available.”

She added: “We are concerned; there’s no doubt about it but we would like to think we have a good facility and there’s a reason to make the best possible use of it.”

A spokesperson for CDDFT said: “We recognise that the Richardson Hospital is well loved by the local communities it serves and making the best use of all NHS resources and assets is in everyone’s interests.

“With this in mind, the Richardson Community Hospital Reference Group has been established as a forum where all the different partners and representatives from the local community, including Barnard Castle Town Council, can come together to discuss how the hospital could be utilised in the future.

“There have been some very valuable discussions and suggestions as the group reviews current activity and considers different ways in which the hospital could be used. This work will continue through the reference group. Partners are listening to comments and feedback coming through the meeting and are working to improve the information available to the public with regards to the services being delivered from the Richardson.”