Letter of the week: Why can't we steer patients towards our own Hartlepool hospital?

I read the article (Mail, November 1) about claims that patients are being 'steered' towards the University Hospital of North Tees.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Nov 2017, 12:25 BST
Updated 12th Dec 2017, 01:53 BST
There is a fear that too many Hartlepool patients are being unnecessarily steered towards hospitals in Stockton and Middlesbrough.There is a fear that too many Hartlepool patients are being unnecessarily steered towards hospitals in Stockton and Middlesbrough.
There is a fear that too many Hartlepool patients are being unnecessarily steered towards hospitals in Stockton and Middlesbrough.

Patients steered away from hospital for operations, meeting toldI had need of a small surgical operation and my doctor’s decision was that Middlesbrough was the place for it.

The day before the surgery I phoned to book a taxi to take me to the practice but, as it was early in the morning, all were fully booked for schoolchildren.

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I phoned the number given for cancellations, and guess what?

I was given an appointment at the University Hospital of Hartlepool within a month.

Why didn’t my doctor send me to the Hartlepool hospital in the first place if it's possible my needs could be remedied there?

Fred Gibbon,

Masefield Road,

Hartlepool.

Last week's Letter of the week: 'I wait with bated breath for Church Street vision to appear'

Related topics:HartlepoolMiddlesbroughPatients