No surgery will take place at revamped Shotley Bridge Hospital chroniclelive.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chroniclelive.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
NHS chiefs have insisted they are still weighing options for the future of a hospital in County Durham. The ageing Shotley Bridge Hospital facility has been earmarked for a multi-million pound overhaul, with bosses considering whether to refurbish the current site or relocate. But after concerns were raised about the process, bosses have attempted to reassure the public and patients they have not already made up their minds, while also warning a final scheme must be more than just a ‘sticking plaster’ for existing issues. “No decision has been made at this stage,” said Rachel Rooney, commissioning and development manager at County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
NHS chiefs have teased further details of a planned multimillion-pound overhaul at a County Durham hospital. Work on a major renovation and rebuild at Shotley Bridge Hospital has reportedly been allocated about £30 million by ministers, with completion targeted for 2024. And according to the latest proposals, as well as maintaining the services currently offered from the site, including an out of hours home visiting option, extra inpatients beds could also be offered. A presentation prepared for Durham County Council has promised continued ‘commitment to continuing extensive range of clinics and outpatient services provided’. And an ‘overnight visiting service’ could also be on the cards to ‘reduce need for patients to travel to site’ out of hours.
A COUNTY Durham MP has joined the fight to end ‘unjust’ and ‘outdated’ policies preventing some would-be parents access to fertility treatment on the NHS, after being moved by one couple’s story. Following surgery, Klara Halpin is unable to conceive naturally with her partner Craig Longstaff but because he already has children they do not qualify for IVF treatment on the NHS. The couple, from Bishop Auckland, worked with their GP and MP Dehenna Davison to appeal County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group’s decision but were turned down. They have since raised nearly £4,000 through an online appeal to resume private treatment.
A COUPLE who desperately want a baby together say they have been given fresh hope after people donated almost £4,000 online so they could resume fertility treatment. Klara Halpin and Craig Longstaff set up an online fundraising campaign after spending all their savings on an unsuccessful course of IVF last year. The couple, from Bishop Auckland, did not qualify for free IVF treatment from the NHS so turned to a private clinic, which has cost them about £10,000 so far. After one chemical pregnancy and a miscarriage and with their money running out they appealed to the County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group for NHS treatment – backed by MP Dehenna Davison – but lost.