A COUNCIL will hold an inquiry into contentious NHS plans that critics believe will lead to NHS services being lost and hospitals being downgraded.

Darlington Borough Council have announced plans to hold an inquiry into proposals that critics fear could lead to the downgrading of hospital services and the closure of the A&E department at either Darlington Memorial Hospital or North Tees, in Stockton.

The controversial Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) envisages the establishment of two specialist emergency hospitals in the region – Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital and either DMH or North Tees.

Four local hospitals – the Friarage in Northallerton, Bishop Auckland, Hartlepool and one of DMH or NT – would also be created, though only the Friarage would retain its A&E department.

At a meeting on Thursday, representatives of the 999 Call for the NHS campaign urged Darlington Borough Council to back them in resisting STPs in their entirety.

In response, councillors said they shared concerns and reservations about the potential impact of STPs on the town’s residents.

Cllr Wendy Newall said plans were underway for an in-depth inquiry and pledged to involve residents, patients and medical staff in their scrutiny process.

DBC’s cabinet member for health and partnerships, Cllr Andy Scott, said: “I have stated my support for calls to retain a full range of services at DMH and I stand by that.

“I hope the public inquiry the council is organising will be an important part of the conversation about the future of our health services and a chance for people to make their views known.”

Prominent campaigner Jo Land warned that concentrating efforts on protecting Darlington’s services could lead to a “hollow victory”, predicting that changes and closures at North Tees hospital would result in a potentially dangerous increase in demand in Darlington.

She said: “If you fail to oppose the STP but save services at Darlington Memorial, it will be a hollow victory indeed if I am back here in three years’ time asking what we are going to do about people dying avoidably in Darlington Memorial because they are inundated with patients who would once have gone to North Tees.”

Darlington’s MP Jenny Chapman. who is leading the Save Our Services campaign, said she was pleased the authority would be scrutinising plans she believes would be disastrous for the town.

An NHS spokesman said: “We look forward to discussing with councillors how the NHS and councils can work together to develop better, safer, higher quality services for local people.”

DBC is expected to announce full details of their public inquiry in the coming weeks.