A GRANDMOTHER-OF-TWO with leukaemia has threatened to chain herself to the entrance of a hospital if the planned closure of its haematology ward goes ahead.

June Ryder credits the eight-bedroom ward at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton with saving her life and describes the doctors and nurses as extended family.

Last week, Ms Ryder, 56, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was devastated when she discovered the ward was to be phased out by November due to a struggle to recruit new consultants.

She said: “When I was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2010 I was told I had between two days and two weeks to live.

“If it wasn’t for the ward I wouldn’t have been there for the birth of my six-week-old granddaughter.

“Every time I have treatment the doctors and nurses are there to hold my hand. They hug me if I feel down and hold back my hair when I am sick.”

The haematology ward provides a place for patients with malignant and non-malignant blood diseases to stay when receiving treatment that requires a spell in hospital.

The day unit will remain open but the loss of the ward will mean patients that require more intensive treatments will be sent to other North-East hospitals.

More than 4,000 people have signed a petition against North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust’s decision.

Ms Ryder said the increased journey time would make travelling to and from treatment unbearable.

“I am not just fighting this for me but for future patients,” she said. “I will chain myself to the hospital if necessary.”

Dr David Emerton, medical director of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, said: “In the future different arrangements will be needed for the small number of patients with the most serious haematological conditions who need to be admitted as an inpatient to a specialist haematology unit.

“Patients currently in our unit will continue to be looked after there but we are in discussions with the hospitals north and south of us to ensure that any new patients can be admitted to hospitals near to their home.”

He said the trust had made “strenuous efforts” to recruit medical staff in recent years but said there was a shortage of doctors with the required skills, with those available attracted to specialist or tertiary centres in larger towns and cities.

The petition will be handed to the Trust board on Thursday, October 23. To sign it, visit you.38degrees.org.uk and search for ‘haematology ward’.