Bishop Auckland Methodist Church was full for the meeting, which was organised by MP Helen Goodman to discuss concerns over ward six at the town’s hospital.

The meeting was one of several initiatives by campaigners who have been fighting to keep the ward open following shock news earlier this month that bosses at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) had started a consultation exercise to discuss closure plans.

• Fears for future of hospital as ward closure proposal announced

The step-down ward, which has 24 beds, was given a temporary reprieve last week when the trust confirmed the closure would be paused until a meeting on November 15.

Ms Goodman opened the public meeting by saying she was “very disappointed” when she heard the news and said she wanted people to feel like they had had an opportunity to ask questions.

Sue Jacques, chief executive of CDDFT and trust chairman, Professor Paul Keane, also attended.

Prof Keane was booed as he introduced himself while Ms Jacques, who said there had been increased demand at the hospital and more investment in its services, caused uproar when she said no decisions had yet been made.

Sharon Morgan, associate director of nursing at the trust, said it was working closely with health and social care teams to try to keep patients in their own homes but was forced to clarify her comments when she initially said patients who spend ten days in hospital will reduce their life expectancy by ten years. She said she meant muscle mass would be reduced and patients could be rehabilitated in their own homes.

However, a member of the public, whose mother-in-law has dementia said the ward had been crucial and social care packages were not available in the community, often leaving families to pick up the pieces.

Shouting at the trust representatives she said: “Don’t stand there and tell me there’s help in the community; it’s not and social services cannot get you the care and help you need because they cannot get the care packages.”

Ms Goodman was also booed when she suggested Conservative cuts to budgets had caused the problems with funding care packages.
Several staff members, who were praised for their excellent care, also spoke passionately at the meeting.

One staff member called Ms Goodman a “charlatan” while another asked why they had been told the ward would close on November 12 if there was still a chance it could remain open.

Ms Jacques said: “We are not closing anything down, we are having a discussion with staff.”

People came from far and wide to attend the meeting, which also saw several county and town councillors voice their concerns, some travelling from as far as Rookhope, in Weardale.

Durham County Councillor for Coundon, Charlie Kay said: “If you are to close more step-down wards, you get more burden on the community. It’s broken and what you are going to do is make it even more broken.”

Durham County Councillor for Bishop Auckland Town, Sam Zair was applauded when he asked Ms Jacques: “How could you not inform Trust members and governors of this ward closure when clearly it would affect the population of County Durham?”

He added: “The only reason you have got this on pause is because you have been found out. The Trust have paused this decision until scrutiny meets but I say this to you Sue: Don’t pause this decision I want you to scrap this decision.” 

More than 2,000 people have also signed a petition against the closure and a march will be held on Saturday, outside the Newgate Centre, in Bishop Auckland, from 2pm.

Members of the public can also attend Durham County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny meeting on November 15, at 9.30am which will hear evidence directly from the trust regarding the proposed closure. 

Anyone interested in attending the meeting should email scrutiny@durham.gov.uk and attend in good time to clear security before the meeting commences.