Hospital unit 'probably not' going to fully reopen

Shotley Bridge has been left without an overnight treatment unit since July

A review of the overnight closure of a hospital's urgent treatment centre (UTC) is unlikely to see it reopen, bosses have said.

Initially the unit at County Durham's Shotley Bridge Hospital was shut overnight for three months from July due to staffing issues.

But residents warned the nightly closures between 00:00 and 08:00 would remove local access to urgent care and place further pressures on NHS services.

A review of the UTC's future will take place in the next two weeks but County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust said the facility had lost more staff and was "probably not" in a position to fully reopen.

"The basis for closure was the ability to maintain safe staffing levels, whilst proactively recruiting," said Paul Frank, operations and performance director at the trust.

"Unfortunately, we have lost a further three registered nurses, so we are still going through the process of trying to secure sufficient staff to enable us to provide safe levels.

"Are we in a position to open 24 hours again? At this stage, probably not."

People being 'punished'

The trust said prior to the reduction in opening hours an average of five to six patients were seen overnight.

During closure, an average of one patient was referred to University Hospital North Durham from the Shotley Bridge area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Liberal Democrat Durham County councillor Dominic Haney said Mr Frank's comments suggested the trust was "laying the groundwork for the overnight facility to close".

"We need to safeguard what we have got and there's been a failure to do that," he said.

"Ultimately, the people of Consett shouldn't be punished for your inability to adequately staff it."

Construction of a new hospital in Consett, which includes a UTC, is expected to be completed by 2030.

Mr Frank said the trust was committed to providing a 24-hour provision in the new Shotley Bridge Hospital but it had to accept its "current ability is limited".

"It is not our intention to close it permanently," he said.