AN MP has called a public meeting and will present a petition to parliament opposing the closure of a hospital ward in County Durham.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman has set out an action plan to fight the proposed closure of Bishop Auckland Hospital’s Ward 6.

The nurse-led ‘step down’ ward of 24 beds is for patients who no longer require doctor care but are not ready to go home.

Ms Goodman last night confirmed she had arranged a public meeting to discuss the matter and is calling on constituents to sign a petition and write to Healthwatch County Durham to appeal for a public consultation.

She said: ““The closure of Ward 6 has to be opposed, we cannot afford to lose the 24 beds and established team of experienced, compassionate nurses at Bishop Auckland, especially as winter approaches. The trust have told me they want to treat more people at home via the district nursing teams, but they are not putting any more resource into that team. If Ward 6 was to close in November, it would be a disaster for patients and NHS frontline staff this winter. As it stands this is NHS cuts dressed up as reorganisation.”

With only an internal consultation taking place until the end of this month, Ms Goodman has criticised decisions being made “behind closed doors”.

“We don’t know what the financial savings are or what their assessment is of the impact on patients,” she added. “There needs to be a public consultation on this issue with all of the information available. I am taking action to fight this ward closure and to secure future investment in District Nursing services.”

Ms Goodman will meet with nurses from ward and has pledged to call on the Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Durham County Council to call in the proposal.

It is understood the estimated 30 members of staff from the ward will be redeployed elsewhere across the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

And should the proposal go ahead, it is understood the ward could stop taking patients from October 31 and the ward could close on November 11 or 12.

However, this may be subject to change.

It is understood the trust has shifted focus to increasing patient care in the community, outside of hospital. A trust spokesperson earlier this week said the consultation was based on “demand, staffing and bed occupancy across its sites” and was the result of ongoing reviews of patient needs and resources.

Residents and a town councillor have also launched a petition and campaign group to fight the closure.

The public meeting will be at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church, Cockton Hill Road, at 6.30pm, October 18.