A CANCER survivor has condemned the decision to close the breast cancer clinic at Bishop Auckland Hospital.

Trish Greensmith has been a regular visitor to the clinic since she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2007.

During a routine check up last week she was surprised and devastated to learn that hospital bosses are considering closing the clinic, meaning those who need to visit will have to travel to Durham or Darlington.

Mrs Greensmith said: “I’m getting fed up of people making decisions without speaking to the public about it first.

“They make these decisions based on people like me, Bishop Auckland Hospital literally saved my life and I haven’t even been consulted about it.

“If the member of staff didn’t tell me when I was in last week I wouldn’t have known about it and that’s not fair. It makes me upset thinking about it, I'm devastated.”

Mrs Greensmith set up The Chyrelle Addams Cancer Support Trust to fight back against cancer and has since raised hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The funds have been used for equipment for Bishop Auckland Hospital as well as Darlington Memorial Hospital, the University Hospital of North Durham and the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle.

The experienced fundraiser is working towards a £12,000 target for four infusion pumps, used to administer chemotherapy, for Bishop Auckland Hospital and Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Bishop Auckland Town Councillor Sam Zair added: “Closing the cancer clinic in Bishop Auckland just doesn’t make sense.

“It’s the travelling part that needs to be considered, people in Bishop Auckland, Willington and even those up in the dales are going to have to travel even further now.

“It’s another blow for Bishop Auckland Hospital and the people who rely on it.”

Edmund Lovell, of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said there will definitely be a public consultation regarding the closure of the clinics at Bishop Auckland and Shotley Bridge.

“This is not something we are doing in secret. A key reason this is being considered is because there is a pressure on the system that can be better managed if we have fewer sites,” he said.

“It’s a recommendation that has come directly from doctors, nurses and surgeons.”

Mr Lovell also said the loss of staff radiologists had put increasing pressure on the clinics.

The closure of the clinics is due to go to public consultation later in the year.