CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a big turn-out at tonight’s public consultation meeting about the future of a town’s medical services.

The 6pm meeting at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, will give the public the chance to question senior doctors and officials at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust about proposals to re-organise acute medical services.

They will also be able to question Professor Sir George Alberti, who is a leading expert on emergency care.

Prof Alberti supports the re-organisation and has stated that to leave things as they are “is not an option”.

Clive Auld, spokesman for the Save Our Hospital (SOH) group said: “We are urging people to attend this important meeting. This is your chance to put your views to trust representatives.”

The group has organised a mass rally in the town’s Market Square on Saturday at 11am to protest against the proposals.

NHS officials insist that the changes are needed to guarantee patient safety and ensure high quality treatment, by concentrating acute services at Darlington Memorial Hospital and the University Hospital of North Durham.

The main concern of the SOH campaign group is the plan to turn Bishop Auckland General Hospital’s accident and emergency department into an urgent care centre.

It would mean patients with acute medical needs will be taken by ambulance to either Darlington or Durham City, while Bishop Auckland would mostly be used for planned operations and rehabilitation.

Mr Auld predicted that if the move goes ahead, Darlington and Durham City will not be able to cope with the influx of new patients.

The trust insists that about two-thirds of people who are treated at Bishop Auckland A&E department would continue to get the treatment they need at the hospital.

Officials point out that the hospital will still have a full range of diagnostic tests, intermediate care beds for patients well enough to leave hospital but not to go home, and a rapid assessment centre for GPs to refer patients for specialist opinion.