A COUNCIL is backing the closure of a hospital accident and emergency unit – to the anger of campaigners.

Darlington Borough Council has been accused of “totally and utterly forgetting about the people of Bishop Auckland”

after backing plans to close the town’s accident and emergency unit, which will see acute services transferred to Darlington and Durham.

If the closure goes ahead, it will mean Bishop Auckland Hospital will become a centre for planned surgery and rehabilitation.

Speaking at a meeting of Darlington Borough Council’s health and wellbeing scrutiny committee yesterday, Councillor Marian Swift said: “It is the best option for the residents of Darlington.

“If residents are going in for planned operations, such as hip or knee replacements, they will not be affected by emergencies when their appointment comes around.”

She also praised the way the consultations had been carried out, adding: “We would also like to compliment the trust on its consultation process.

“It was the most robust one we have ever had.

“We have been involved for more than a year, with every opportunity to comment and influence the formal consultation process.”

But in praising the work of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, the council has angered campaigners in Bishop Auckland and the surrounding rural areas.

The protestors are concerned that seriously ill patients will have to travel further to access potentially life-saving services.

Clive Auld, spokesman for the Save Our Hospital campaign, said: “It doesn’t come as any surprise that they are looking after their own, but it is disappointing that they are not grasping the disruption that the closure will cause.

“They want to have a look at their consciences and stop looking at their own futures – they have totally and utterly forgotten about the people of Bishop Auckland.

“It’s not even galling any more, we’ve come to expect it, but it is totally against the run of play.

“I don’t think there is anywhere in the country with a worse situation thrust upon them than the people of Bishop Auckland.”

Mr Auld was among a group of campaigners who travelled to Downing Street on Monday to hand over a petition signed by 16,000 people protesting against the move.