The future of Darlington Memorial Hospital’s A&E and consultant-led maternity unit hangs in the balance today after a draft NHS report recommending that either Darlington or North Tees Hospitals lose these services.
The draft Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) was published by the NHS yesterday. It recommends that either Darlington or North Tees see their A&E and consultant-led maternity services removed and instead move to proving mainly elective services.
The hospital which would be downgraded would have an urgent care centre and a midwife-led maternity unit. The report suggests that while James Cook remains the region’s major trauma unit, a second hospital – either Darlington or North Tees – keep its A&E with consultants on hand 16 hours of the day – an increase on the current situation.
Full story in Richmondshire Today 26 November 2016