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MP says she is deeply disappointed at Teignmouth Hospital closure plans

MP Anne Marie Morris

Teignmouth’s MP Anne Marie Morris has said she is deeply disappointed at plans that could see the town’s hospital close.

The NHS South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust have proposed plans that would see a new health centre in the town created.

The purpose-built site could see Teignmouth’s three GP practices– Channel View, Teign Estuary and Teignmouth Medical Practice – co-located with the multi-disciplinary health and wellbeing team, voluntary sector partners, and some outpatie​nt clinics, but would see the closure of the current Teignmouth Hospital in Mill Lane.

Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot, has said that she welcomes the plans to co-locate health services, but has called for Teignmouth Hospital to stay open.

She said: “I am deeply disappointed to be told that there are plans to close Teignmouth Hospital. This was not the outline plan when the NHS consulted on this issue in 2014/15 and assurances were given that the bed provision at Teignmouth Hospital would be retained.

“Whilst I welcome the news that the three GP’s surgeries are planning to merge, and also incorporate the voluntary sector under one roof, I do not believe that this should necessitate the closure of the Hospital. I am arranging to meet all those involved in the consultation and decision making process to understand precisely what has happened since the previous consultation was undertaken, and to ask why such a radical change of position is now being considered.

“I am committed to ensuring we get the best possible health and care services for residents, increasing what is available to the community, and ensuring contributions to the hospital over its many years are respected and recognised.”

The new, modern health and care centre, that would aim to support a wide range of health needs in Teignmouth, is currently being considered by the NHS. If the proposals went ahead, the new centre would be up and running before the closure of the current Teignmouth Hospital took place, with services transferring across to the new building.

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