Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the proposed closure of the accident and emergency wing at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The design and delivery of frontline health services is a matter for the National Health Service to determine locally – clinically led by frontline NHS organisations and clinicians who are closest to the needs of communities and therefore best placed to make decisions in the interests of their patients.

The principles for service change are enshrined in the four reconfiguration tests which state that all local reconfiguration plans should demonstrate: support from commissioners, strong public and patient engagement, clear clinical evidence base and support for patient choice.