HEALTH bosses are working with community groups to raise awareness of what Barnard Castle’s Richardson Hospital has to offer.
In addition to the 16-bed in-patient ward, more than 20 different clinics and services are run from the hospital, in Victoria Road, which is operated by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
However, it is feared that people aren’t fully aware of what is available to them.
The Friends of Richardson Hospital, a group of volunteers who support staff, patients and visitors, are joining forces with the trust to help spread the word.
Iris Hillery, honorary secretary and publicity officer for the friends, said: “We want to make people aware of what is here, not what is not here.
“As the friends, we just want to get the positive message out there that your community hospital is here and now. Use it. There is an element of use it or lose it but that is the same with any service. We want people to know what is here.”
Chairwoman of the friends Marie Yarker said: “We are beginning to get the message out. Communication is key. If you know it is available, you can ask the question.”
Facilities at the hospital are being advertised on posters in businesses and public buildings in Barnard Castle.
A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and Durham, Dales, Easington and Sedgefield CCG said: “Over 20 health specialties run clinics at the Richardson Hospital, many of which are delivered by consultants or specialist nurses.
“There are clinics everyday in two of our most popular clinics, physiotherapy and podiatry. Other clinics include urology, rheumatology, dermatology, audiology, cardio rehabilitation, ophthalmology and speech and language therapy.
“The hospital also has a weekly contraception and sexual health clinic. Patients using warfarin can also be monitored at the Richardson Hospital. These clinics are for the benefit and convenience of local people.”
The hospital, which opened in 2007, is also home to an out-of-hours service. This is not a walk-in service and can only be accessed by calling 111. Ms Yarker said: “We want to promote the positive side of the hospital. There is too much negativity about the whole thing. We want people to stop thinking they can’t get facilities here. If your relative needs a bed and the illness is appropriate to the beds and nursing skills we have then that is fine.”
Meanwhile efforts are being made to fully utilise the empty space in the hospital created by the closure of the Lowson ward in March 2016.
A room booking facility with competitive rates is now available which is open to all organisations.
Ms Hillery said: “The trust is looking at ways to redeploy the space. It is so well equipped, purpose built and well laid out. It has got all the mod cons.
“We want to see the building used because that will help to ensure that we can maintain the other services that are here. Our interest is in delivering services not maintaining buildings but we need to do that to guarantee services. It is a bit of a Catch 22.”
The volunteer group currently has 11 committee members but new additions are always welcome.
Ms Yarker said: “We are keen to recruit people who want to do something or who can give us ideas about how to help the hospital.”
Ms Hillery added: “We get a lot of concerns about what is going to happen in the future but we don’t have a crystal ball. We don’t know. All we know is what is happening now because we see it and we provide equipment for it. We know what positive experiences people are having.”
Information about the clinics can be found online at www.cddft.nhs.uk. For details on room availability email durhamtenantliaison@com
munityhealthpartnerships.co.uk.
