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Hospital set to close
THE Government today stands accused of betraying Hartlepool and east Durham over the future of our hospital.
In September 2004 – days before a crunch by-election Labour was desperate to win – Prime Minister Tony Blair made a promise over the University Hospital of Hartlepool. He told the Mail: "There is no question of the hospital closing or services being rundown.
"John Reid (the then Health Secretary] is saying it won't close, I'm saying it won't close. I don't know what the next authority is you go to."
Labour's Iain Wright was elected MP a few days later.
Today we learn that following a near four-year review of hospital services, Hartlepool's hospital is to be replaced with a single new one somewhere north of the Tees.
Until that is built – perhaps within as little as four years – maternity and children's services in Hartlepool will be downgraded and the consultant-led services will be centralised at the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton.
This bitter blow to the people of Hartlepool and east Durham goes against the recommendations of Professor Ara Darzi, the top consultant drafted in by the Government itself to advise on how services could be maintained in Hartlepool.
He had called for a centre of excellence in Hartlepool for children's and maternity services.
It comes after accident and emergency services at Hartlepool hospital have been downgraded,
…it comes after MP Iain Wright resigned his government position over the issue,
…and it comes after 32,403 people signed the Mail's Save Our Services campaign petition calling for the Darzi proposals to be followed to the letter.
What must all the people of Hartlepool and east Durham be thinking today when they remember the promises made?
The Mail would guess they feel misled, double-crossed and betrayed.
MPs set to actSingle site 'safer for patients'
Timeline of events
Hospital could close within four years
Campaigners say they are devastated
How the changes affect you
Word on the street
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Weather for Hartlepool
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
