'Use it or lose it' plea over Barnard Castle's Richardson Hospital

CONCERNED groups have met NHS bosses to discuss the future of the Richardson Hospital following a drop-in session to gather public views about the facility.

This follows a cut in the number of beds and staff at the hospital in recent months.

Dozens of people turned out for the public consultation organised by Barnard Castle Town Council on Saturday, October 7.

Following that representatives of the town council, county council, Teesdale Action Partnership (TAP), and Friends of the Richards Hospital (FRH) met hospital chiefs to present the concerns. Speaking about the drop-in, Marie Yarker, of FRH, said: “There were 80 to 90 people through the door. All the information was collated by the town council. It was nearly all favourable, but it was nearly all historical which doesn't help us now.

“It was lovely to hear how loved the Richardson Hospital is. The information we got on Saturday we took forward to Wednesday. I think it is a work in progress.”

She emphasised that many people had a misunderstanding of what was going on at the hospital and many people believe the NHS wants to shut it. This was causing a problem because people are starting to look elsewhere for services provided by the hospital, she said.

Ms Yarker added: “It is not going to close – we still have a 15-year lease on it. People are not using the hospital. People are not using the clinics. Why go to Bishop for an audiology test? Go to the Richardson. You might have to wait a little longer for an appointment, but if you don’t use it you will lose it.”

She said services provided by the hospital include podiatry, urology, orthoptists, rheumatology, audiology, retinal eye screening, speech and language therapy, dental, dermatology and physiotherapy.

Clinics are held for pain, contraception and sexual health, warfarin and lymphedema, and the hospital offers pulmonary and cardio rehabilitation services as well.

Ms Yarker said: “And then we have the out of hours service which runs from 6pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. It is only two hours a day, but it is better than nothing. But you cannot just turn up, you must ring 111.”

An example of where the service could be used, she said, is if a child falls ill and the doctor’s surgery is closed.

Problems identified by Ms Yarker included “miscommunication” in the NHS about the existence of Richardson Hospital. People who needed to recuperate after being at hospitals in Newcastle or Middlesbrough were being sent to Darlington and elsewhere instead of Richardson Hospital. Also people dialling 111 were being directed to other hospitals instead of to their local facility.

She added that services available at the hospital are not advertised on the NHS website. Ms Yarker said further meetings with the NHS are planned. She added: “What we need to work out is what to do next. We are working hard with them for the way forward. We are moving forward and we are making progress and that has got to be positive.”