A number of services at South Tyneside Hospital are being removed from the region or reduced, following a meeting of health bosses in Hebburn today.
Stroke services, 24-hour children’s A&E and some maternity services are moving to Sunderland.
South Tyneside Hospital will continue to operate children’s A&E units between 8am and 8pm, and a free standing midwife-led unit will be developed at South Tyneside while the consultant led unit will be based in Sunderland.
Campaigners gathered in Hebburn as the meeting was taking place to put pressure on South Tyneside and Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group members.
Watch: Campaigners in Hebburn fighting to save South Tyneside Hospital services
Campaigners are concerned about the impact on the people of South Tyneside. They fear many people will struggle to access services in Sunderland.
They are also concerned that the changes will cause too much pressure for Sunderland Hospital and the ambulance service.
People have been sharing their disappointment on Twitter, including South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck.
The people of Shields & South Tyneside as a whole have been grossly let down by those tasked with looking after our healthcare. Shame on anyone who had the ability to & has chosen not to robustly fight for our Hospital. This is not the end @SaveSTHospital
— Emma Lewell-Buck MP (@EmmaLewellBuck) February 21, 2018
Statement from Roger Nettleship from the Save South Tyneside Hospital campaign pic.twitter.com/dc87tM8OT9
— Katie Dickinson (@KatieJDickinson) February 21, 2018
So from 2021 we’ll have no paeds A&E in South Tyneside. Devastating and dangerous. Let’s just hope with everything we’ve got that we have a Labour government led by @jeremycorbyn in power by then who will do something to stop it #SaveOurNHS #ToriesOut
— Jill Doran 🌹 (@jillymet) February 21, 2018
South Shields comedian Chris Ramsey has also been campaigning online to save the hospital and has posted his views on social media.
South Tyneside and Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group member Dr Matthew Walmsley ended the meeting saying:
“This has certainly not been easy but we mustn’t forget the very compelling reasons for the change.
“We will save more lives today than I have done on any day of my career so far.”
The changes are due to take place by April 2019.