CONCERNED councillors are protesting over the further downgrading of services at a hospital which is threatening its future as a centre for emergency and unplanned surgery.

Worried GPs, consultants and staff at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton have already highlighted reductions in anaesthetic and intensive care cover – which means many seriously ill patients are now sent to either James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, or Darlington Memorial Hospital.

This, they say, piles further pressure on the hard-pressed ambulance service in terms of costs and time, with ambulances often having to travel up to 46 miles further.

Dales councillor John Blackie told North Yorkshire County Council's Richmondshire Area committee: “Health care professionals are telling us there has been no consultation on what are big issues."

"We are seeing in front of our eyes they are going to take that wonderful hospital and downgrade it to do allocated care but not the emergency care that the local community depends upon, when time saved equals lives saved.

“There has been no proper consultation. It picks and chooses who their patients are but we can’t pick and choose when we are ill. We just want to get to our nearest hospital.”

In 2014, 24-hour consultant-led maternity and paediatric services were lost from the Friarage Hospital, despite a major campaign.

Cllr Karin Sedgwick said there were major issues in attracting doctors and nurses who are going to work abroad while Cllr Stuart Parsons warned: "They are draining the system with all this administration instead of paying our doctors and nurses and it is being destroyed from behind closed doors.

"People who have waited to go to the Friarage are being taken to Darlington and as they are recovering they are being taken to Bishop Auckland.”

Cllr Blackie said there was particular concern over the effect on the ambulance service with the recent case of a mother with head injuries who waited an hour and a quarter for an ambulance to be told eventually one would not be attending and she must make her own way to hospital.

“Ambulances are being expected to perform miracles, the staff are tremendous but they are being asked to travel an extra 46 miles,”added Cllr Blackie.

The committee called upon the county council to raise its concerns.