COUNCIL chiefs fear that plans to reorganise health provision in Darlington, Durham and the Tees Valley mean that residents will face longer journeys for A&E, as well as maternity and paediatric services.

County Councillor Carl Les, who is also local member for Catterick, is concerned that under the Better Health Programme, which involves a review and reorganisation of health service provision in Durham and the Tees Valley, A&E as well as maternity and paediatric services will move from Darlington to Durham.

A formal consultation under the Better Health Programme is expected to start in November of this year and proposals about which hospitals in the area will retain A&E services will be a key part of that consultation.

The consultation will also include the location of maternity and paediatric services across the area.

Cllr Les said his fears had grown as a result of the fact that the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, which manages both the Darlington Hospital and the University Hospital of North Durham, has submitted a planning application to Durham County Council for a new emergency centre at the Durham Hospital.

“I am extremely concerned that the NHS has submitted this application only months before a formal consultation is planned,” said Cllr Les.

“It suggests the NHS has already decided where services will be located.

"Such a development could impact on communities in Richmondshire for whom Darlington is their nearest A&E unit.

“Moreover, one of the reasons why consultant-led maternity services and paediatrics were moved from the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough two years ago was because these services are also available at Darlington Hospital.

"If these services are now under threat at Darlington it is a matter of great concern, especially as we have heard only today that as an interim measure mothers expecting twin deliveries will be managed at the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough until appropriate assurances are re-established at Darlington Hospital.”

The NHS foundation trusts whose services could be affected by the review under the Better Health Care programme are:

- County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust South Tees Hospitals

- NHS Foundation Trust North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

- North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

A Joint Health Scrutiny Committee comprising councillors from across all affected local authorities is being set up to oversee the programme including any service change/review proposals and associated statutory consultation.

North Yorkshire County Council and Darlington Borough Council will each have three seats on the committee.

Councillor Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Borough Council is also concerned that decisions might already have been made.

He said: "I fully recognise that the Darlington Memorial Hospital serves not only the population of Darlington but a much larger geography, extending into South west Durham and North Yorkshire.

"I share with Cllr Les a real concern that any reduction in services within the Darlington Memorial Hospital could create risks to the health of our combined communities.”