Hospital campaigner calls reasons ruling out return of Hartlepool A&E 'nonsense'
A local health campaigner called health bosses’ reasons for ruling out a return of Hartlepool hospital’s A&E department as “nonsense”.
The Mail reported last week comments of from University Hospitals Tees’ senior staff to Tees to Hartlepool Borough Council that not enough patients would use an accident and emergency department at the town’s hospital to justify reopening it.
But Glen Hughes, of the Fighting For Hartlepool Hospital group, said: “I think it’s nonsense to say a town of our size that’s ever growing will not generate enough need for an A&E department.
"It is not just Hartlepool the hospital serves, but all the surrounding villages and East Durham.”
Neil Atkinson, University Hospitals Tees’ group chief delivery officer, told the council: “You would not have enough activity within Hartlepool to be able to justify an accident and emergency department.”
He added there would be “huge financial consequences” plus ongoing recurring costs.
The University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, has been branded unfit for purpose and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen is set to meet with health secretary Wes Streeting to discuss plans for a replacement.
Glen, 47, argued better use could be made of the Hartlepool site.
He said: “The trust has assets in land and perfectly sound structures.
"Could they not just spread the load between the two hospitals? Would that not relieve pressures on North Tees?”
Glen also questioned how a new hospital would be funded and how long it would take to build adding: “The trust need to look at a common sense approach.”