PROTESTORS against the closure of a nurse-led hospital ward have taken their case to County Hall.

Members of a Durham County Council scrutiny committee are meeting today to look at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust's proposals to close ward six at Bishop Auckland Hospital.

Ahead of the meeting, a group of people against the closure staged a protest outside County Hall, in Aykley Heads, Durham.

Bishop Auckland councillor Joy Allen, a member of the authority's cabinet, said: "We're here today in support of saving ward six from closure.

"It's an ill conceived plan, poorly implemented and operationally flawed."

Bishop Auckland Hospital

She added: "Scrutiny has paused the process and we hope we can get it stopped and keep the staff and keep the resources at Bishop Auckland Hospital."

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) is currently consulting with staff about the delivery of services from ward six.

The plans first emerged in October, with the initial timescale suggesting the ward could close by November 12 with staff moved elsewhere.

The process has been paused until today's meeting.

Ward six, which has 24 beds, is nurse-led and provides “step-down care” for patients who no longer require doctor care but are not well enough to go home.

It is understood staff would be redeployed to fill vacancies elsewhere in the trust.

According to a consultation document sent to staff earlier this month, the closure would achieve cost reductions, support the trust’s bed reduction plan and tackle under occupancy of bed capacity, as well as standardising working practice and staffing ratios across hospital wards.

Campaigners against the ward six closure on a march in Bishop Auckland last month

Ward six nurse Tracy Shield, 54, from Bishop Auckland, also attended the council meeting. She said: "We need to keep the services in Bishop Auckland. Today, I'm hoping to get a decision not to take the beds out of Bishop Auckland."

Bishop Auckland Mayor Dave Fleming said: "I've come to support staff of ward six and fight against the closure.

"The question I would like to ask management is this: They're going to build over 500 houses in Bishop Auckland. Why are they thinking of reducing hospital services when we're encouraging growth in the community?

"Today we just want to get some honest answers."

About 7,300 have signed a petition against the closure, which has been presented to parliament by MP Helen Goodman.