An on line petition organised by concerned residents of Darlington to save Darlington Memorial Hospital A and E from being downgraded to just a Walk In clinic has gained over 10,000 signatures. Combined with the 1500 names already on a physical paper petition the total of people who have signed now exceeds 11,500.
The petition reads
We the undersigned object to any proposal to close the Accident and Emergency Facilities at Darlington Memorial Hospital. We call on the local NHS Trusts to re-open facilities at Bishop Auckland and Hartlepool as existing A and E Departments are unable to cope.
The petition organiser Nigel Boddy says, “it was quite a Christmas present to see the on line petition pass the 10,000 barrier on line. The combined efforts of local shop keepers or local shop workers especially those in Cleveland Terrace and Pierremont Crescent in Darlington gathering signatures on an identical paper petition means the total number of people who have signed the petition is now over 11,500.
This break through is particularly timely as a decision about the future of A and E in Darlington is due in the New Year.”
Anyone who hasn’t already signed who wishes to sign the petition on line can do so at
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-accident-and-emergency-in-darlington
