A COUNCIL has vowed to fight to bring services back to the hospital in Hartlepool - even if it means finding a new provider to run the site.

Senior Hartlepool councillors say they will "explore all options" to see a return of hospital services to the town, rather than some being based at a sister facility in Stockton.

The call comes as the council prepares for a hearing in the High Court on Tuesday, April 5 in a bid to stop North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust ending licensed fertility services at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

Hospital trust chief executive Alan Foster, and chairman Paul Garvin have failed to turn up to three meetings recently called by Hartlepool council to explain the reasons for the planned closure of the fertility unit.

Councillor Ray Martin-Wells, Chair of the Council’s Audit & Governance Committee – the scrutiny arm of the Council – said: “Given that the Hospital Trust executive is not prepared to enter into dialogue, the time has come to explore all legal avenues to see services returned to Hartlepool. This could include seeking alternative providers to run our Hospital in Hartlepool."

“Residents should have a choice where they access hospital services from and we are prepared to look at all models for the delivery of hospital services.

"This will include working closely with Stockton & Hartlepool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) – the organisation that commissions many hospital services.”

Council leader Christopher Akers Belcher said consideration was being given to options available through NHS England's "five-year forward plan" which sets out options for community providers to take over the running of hospitals.

The council is also getting free advice and support from senior consultant Dr Mohamed Menabawey, who set up the fertility clinic initially and who is "vehemently opposed" to any further closures.

He said: “I am firmly of the view that the long-term game plan of the Hospital Trust has been to close the University Hospital of Hartlepool and focus everything at North Tees.

“This is not what local people want and it doesn’t make clinical sense. North Tees Hospital is an out-dated hospital and there is simply no logic in centralising services there. It must be stopped.”

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust said in a statement: “The changes which have been made to the Trust’s hospital services in the past have been done for purely clinical and safety reasons.”