CAMPAIGNERS are organising a summer rally to show their support for Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Health bosses are currently reviewing the way NHS services are delivered across County Durham and the Tees Valley, with a formal consultation on the Better Health Programme set to start in the autumn.

This has led to some residents, including Darlington’s MP Jenny Chapman, questioning the future security of services at the Memorial Hospital, particularly the A&E and maternity departments.

And to demonstrate the strength of feeling about any stripping of services from the hospital, the campaigning group SOS Darlington (Save Our Services) – backed by Ms Chapman – are in the process of organising a rally in early July.

Ms Chapman said that plans were still to be finalised, but it was hoped that a family-friendly event, perhaps incorporating a Wartime-themed picnic, could be staged in the town to show support for the hospital.

She said: “We want to engage residents of Darlington to join the trust and to raise awareness of the potential loss of services at the Memorial Hospital.

“The trust has invited the views of residents on the future of services and I want to help the decision-makers understand the strength of feeling from the public and just to explain how important the services are, particularly A&E.”

Ms Chapman has previously called for more transparency about what the future holds for Darlington’s hospital, but despite meeting with health chiefs she is still sceptical that any services are safe.

She said: “They (health bosses) are accessible but there is no such thing as a straight answer.

“On the one hand they say no decisions have been made, I say ‘can you give me assurances that there will be an A&E in Darlington in the future’ and they can’t do that.

“So there is little surprise that people are concerned about what our hospital will look like in years to come if they can’t give these assurances.”

NHS Durham Darlington and Tees has held public engagement events across the region throughout May and officials will then examine the responses and draw up a draft shortlist of possible scenarios on how services will be delivered across the region in the future.

This will be followed by a public consultation on the shortlisted options, starting in November, with decisions expected to be made in April next year.

The Darlington rally is due to take place on July 2 and updates will be posted on the SOS Darlington facebook page.

Campaigners will also be manning a stall on High Row on Saturday (June 4) from 9am to enable residents to learn more about the Better Health Programme and show their support for Darlington Memorial Hospital.