Protesters fear they will need to travel far for hospital services

The Strategic Health Authority this week announced plans to construct a new hospital within the next 10 years.

Protesters say the proposal vindicates their argument that the University Hospital in Hartlepool will be closed.

They say moving the hospital out of town will make life very difficult for some people.

'Frustrated and disenchanted'

Two sites at Wynyard and Queen's Meadow, both south of Hartlepool, have been identified as possible locations for a new �175m hospital north of the Tees.

John Bloom, from the Save Our Hospital campaign, said: "People in Hartlepool and East Durham want to maintain general services in a general hospital.

"They don't want to have to travel many more miles either for accident and emergency or any other service - they don't see why they should.

"Their voice is not being heard by the health planning authority or by politicians, and people are becoming increasingly frustrated and disenchanted with the whole process."

The Strategic Health Authority said a site for the new hospital will only be chosen after examining the costs and benefits of the available sites.

'Public involvement'

Ken Jarrold, chief executive of the Strategic Health Authority, said: "There has been extensive patient and public involvement in developing the emerging framework, and it is vital that patients and the public continue to be fully involved."

Mr Bloom said the protesters welcomed improvements as long as they do not reduce services and access to services.

He said: "People who use hospitals more than occasionally tend to be the chronically ill, the elderly and the poor who have increased numbers of health issues.

"These people are going to be more disproportionately disadvantaged by having to travel greater distances at a greater cost."

Save Our Hospital campaign secretary, Peter Wolfe, added: "It is not just Hartlepool that will be affected.

"People from the villages of East Durham and parts of Easington traditionally come down to Hartlepool, and while we are willing to accept any improvements, we feel there is a need for a hospital here.

"The authority is using this to get what they want - a single site hospital that is convenient for them but not the public."