EFFORTS to attract organisations to make use of empty space in Barnard Castle’s cottage hospital have so far drawn a blank.
The Richardson Hospital remains under-used, with the entire top floor now empty and just 16 beds routinely open for patients.
Town councillors were told the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the £10million hospital, had started work on a room booking process and hire costs in a bid to make more use of the building.
Cllr Judi Sutherland, a member of the Richardson Reference Group – set up to discuss the future of the hospital – said Durham County Council was also looking at health and social care related teams that may wish to relocate into the complex.
“The trust has contacted hospice providers and say there is no provider that would like to take extra space at the Richardson,” she added.
Updating town council colleagues, Cllr Sutherland said: “Over the winter months, the inpatient beds have been used to roughly 85 per cent occupancy, which is about the level that the NHS targets.
“Sixteen beds are routinely open and there are two more that can be opened flexibly if needed. Any more than that and staffing ratios would call for extra staff.”
Cllr Sutherland said the trust had noted that Teesdale does not have specialist nursing homes.
“GPs recognise that there is often a need for ongoing rehabilitation in Teesdale because of the lack of specialist nursing homes.
“We note that some patients come from Darlington and Bishop Auckland – a separate clinical commissioning group – and about £1million a year comes into the local budget for that service.”
Cllr Sutherland said it had been a concern to note that some outpatient clinics had moved out of the Richardson.
“Outpatient diabetes services have been taken on by primary care doctors and moved from the Richardson to the GP surgery,” she said.
Cllr Sutherland said she and Marie Yarker – chairwoman of the Friends of Richardson Hospital – had heard anecdotal evidence that other clinics had either not taken place or were being held less regularly.
“For all the talk that is going on, we don’t feel we are stopping things from being eroded,” added Cllr Sutherland.
She said the foundation trust had promised to address problems of poor communication about services that are available at the Richardson.
“The trust is working towards a meeting with local media to explain their commitment to the hospital and the reasons for some of the changes we have seen over the last few years.”
The Richardson Hospital was opened in 2007, having been funded under a private finance initiative (PFI) agreement.
Barnard Castle Town Council noted Cllr Sutherland’s report.
