Call to protect Richardson Hospital, Barnard Castle, by giving it community asset status

BARNARD Castle’s community hospital should be officially listed as a community asset as a way of protecting it for the future.

The idea was put forward at Barnard Castle Town Council's annual town meeting.
The future of the hospital, which was opened in 2007, has been a cause for concern among supporters since the closure of one of its two wards in 2015.
Although County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust said this would be a temporary measure, the ward remains closed.
At the town meeting, former councillor John Watson pointed to the success of campaigners at Shotley Bridge, near Consett.
Earlier this year, Shotley Bridge Hospital was made an asset of community value under Community Right to Bid legislation after more than 5,000 people signed a petition in support of the hospital.
Right to Bid allows communities and parish councils – such as Barnard Castle Town Council – to nominate buildings or land as assets.
If they are then put on the market, the community can pause the sale for six months while they try to come up with funding to buy the land or building instead.
“Please take a leaf out of the people of Shotley Bridge,” said Mr Watson.
“They have acted to have their hospital registered as an asset of community significance and it was accepted.
“It doesn’t give 100 per cent protection but it means no action can be taken to close it without going through full community consultation.”
Mr Watson said there had been nothing mentioned in the ongoing Better Health Programme – which outlines the future of NHS services in the region – about the Richardson Hospital.
“The future of the community hospital depends on
the clinical commissioning group,” he said.
“They have not determined anything about the future of the empty ward at the Richardson.
“Everyone in here [at the town meeting] knows there is great concern over the Richardson.”
Mr Watson also urged the town council to respond to the wider issues thrown up by the Better Health Programme, such as the future of A&E and maternity services in the
area.
He said it was important a response was made in the best interests of people in the town and was free from political party input.
“It should be a properly informed response keeping clear of the excitement over where A&E facilities may or may not be.”