LET us be absolutely clear that the proposed closure of ward six at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, is the direct result of Tory austerity cuts and their NHS privatisation programme.

Furthermore, this is the mere tip of the iceberg with the ultimate closure of the hospital being the final outcome.

Let us also be clear that the temporary halt is the direct result of the highly successful campaign led by the Bishop Auckland Constituency Labour Party, our MP Helen Goodman, and Labour Party county and town councillors, which has mobilised community support.

It is the ultimate examples of cynicism and hypocrisy for Independent councillor Sam Zair to make any pronouncements on this success.

Let us also be clear that the ultimate survival of this hospital and the NHS itself, will only be secured by the return of a Labour government which will provide adequate funding and a reversal and eradication of the privatisation programme.

Ken Houlahan, Coundon