We will not forget

“WE haven’t forgotten about our hospital”.

That’s the message from campaigners in Rothbury, who say they won’t let their fight to save beds in their local hospital fade away.

The 12-bed inpatient ward at Rothbury Community Hospital was temporarily shut in September 2016, while health bosses consulted on a permanent closure.

The Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) argued that the beds were “under-used”, and voted in September last year to shut the ward down.

But it was granted a stay of execution, when Northumberland County Council referred the plan to Secretary of State for health Jeremy Hunt.

The decision to refer the case was taken in October, and for now, the future of the ward remains unclear.

Now, campaigners fighting to maintain the service have organised a demonstration in Rothbury, taking place on Sunday, aiming to maintain pressure on Government to decide in favour of the ward.

David Blakeburn, of the Save Rothbury Cottage Hospital Campaign group, said: “It’s now eighteen months since the beds at Rothbury Community Hospital were summarily suspended and several months since the CCG’s decision was announced on the permanent closure of the beds.

“Despite the partial victory in having the CCG’s decision challenged and subsequently referred to Government by the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee at the County Council, it seems to us that the can is being kicked down the proverbial road, so it’s time to ensure that the issue is not lost from the public domain.” David end-of-life services which had been provided by the ward were especially important to locals, who might struggle to travel further afield to say their final goodbyes to loved ones. He added: “We’ve got a lovely modern ward which is just going to waste. The reason this campaign has gained such traction locally is because of the stories that go along with the ward - it’s very important to people.

“We are not stopping, because it’s worth fighting for.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Health said no decision had yet been made.

A spokesperson for NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “The changes to Rothbury Community Hospital have been referred to the Secretary of State for Health by Northumberland County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

“It would not be appropriate for us to take this work forward or make public announcements about the proposed Health and Wellbeing Centre until the Secretary of State has made a decision on the issue.”

It’s very important to people. We are not stopping, because it’s worth fightng for