THE proposal to close ward six at Bishop Auckland Hospital raises many questions.

Can the consultation exercise be meaningful when it only lasts until the end of October and does not involve the public?

Will adequate home care services be available for patients without the necessary support if these beds are lost?

For patients too unwell to recover at home, will there be enough alternative beds available in community hospitals, and what impact will there be on family members facing longer journeys to visit their loved ones?

The million dollar question though, is what is the long term future for Bishop Auckland Hospital, a building which is just 16-years-old, in light of yet another service loss?

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust says the consultation is based on “demand, staffing and bed occupancy across its sites” and is the result of ongoing reviews of patient needs and resources.

This statement has ominous overtones, and despite a wave of public support including various campaigns, many will fear a decision to close the ward has already been made.

On Wednesday, in her flagship speech to the Conservative Party conference, the prime minister announced austerity was at an end. “Because you made sacrifices, there are better days ahead,” Theresa May told the clapping audience.

For those wanting answers about the future of their local hospital, this promise looks incredibly hollow.