Doctors are being urged to back a North Yorkshire council’s fight to save a hospital’s consultant-led maternity and children’s services.

GPs and practices within the Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group area will decide on proposals to downgrade the services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

Richmondshire District Council has circulated its “alternative model” to them, following a series of debates on the future of the services, which could be moved to Middlesbrough.

Coun John Blackie, said the average cost of continuing them in other parts of the country was £200,000, a tenth of the amount the NHS has claimed it would cost.

“We have submitted a very safe and sustainable alternative model, retaining 24/7 consultant-led services, and addressed GPs concerns about affordability by researching similar small hospitals operating elsewhere in the UK,” he said.

“We hope our appeal will prompt GPs to think very carefully before voting to lose these absolutely essential and hugely valued services forever.”