The A&E department at the University Hospital of Hartlepool closed in August 2011 after a fight by campaigners lasting eight years – with various calls made since then for the service to return. Amid concerns over the lifespan of the neighbouring University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton, questions have been asked if greater provision could be offered at the Hartlepool site. However, they stressed A&E services are not expected to return to the hospital due to financial reasons and the lack of activity to “justify” it. Bosses from University Hospitals Tees, a partnership between North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, stressed the site is “really important” to them in providing care. Mr Atkinson said: “We wouldn’t rebuild North Tees as it is currently, we would have to do something different and then leverage opportunities about trying to put more services into the community.