Bishop Auckland Hospital is a small NHS district general hospital serving the western part of County Durham, with a primarily rural catchment area centred on the Wear Valley.

The hospital is managed by the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

The loss of the special care baby unit (SCBU) in October 2007 created much controversy.

[4][5][6] In June 2009, it was announced that the hospital's children's ward would close from 1 July 2009, with all services transferred to Darlington and Durham, a decision that was attacked by campaigners against the hospital's downgrading, but defended by NHS management on the basis of paediatric specialists being "spread too thin".

The local council spent much money on protesting against the closure of services at the hospital.