Campaigners are celebrating after a community’s GP surgery has been saved from closure, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Thousands of St Helen Auckland residents signed a petition in 2025 calling for the local medical practice to stay open after warning it could leave elderly patients isolated.
Auckland Medical Group, which manages the site, previously said the building was “not fit for purpose” as it does not meet accessibility requirements and is too costly to repair. Corridors and consulting rooms were described as being in poor condition, with accessibility issues throughout the building for paramedic teams.
Now, the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) has ruled that the branch surgery will remain open and continue to support residents.
The 4,000 people registered at the current surgery were told that alternative facilities in Toft Hill and Bishop Auckland are better-suited. But residents repeatedly urged health officials to “save our surgery” with a 2,500-signature petition handed over in April 2025.
An NHS ICB spokesperson said: “While we fully recognise the efforts of Auckland Medical Group to find a sustainable way forward with the challenges associated with the condition of the premises and the operational difficulties of running multiple sites, it was agreed that the current case for maintaining the branch is stronger overall.”
The ICB said it considered the increased number of people living in the area due to new housing developments, potential new leisure facilities and improvements to the road infrastructure.
The spokesperson added: “The feedback from patients, rurality of the area, access to transport links and alternative services were also taken into consideration.
“The practice will work with the responsible NHS organisations (ICB) to look at any available funds to optimise the existing building. Thank you to everyone who engaged with the practice and shared your feedback throughout the process.”
Dale Daniel, a resident who took part in the local campaign, thanked former county councillors Rob Yorke and the late George Smith for their work in preventing the closure.
He added: “Thank you to all the community who signed the petition and the brilliant support of the folks who turned out to the two public meetings, they asked common sense questions and were a credit to the village. A community that has over 4,000 patients and growing deserve a surgery.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
