Petition against Teignmouth hospital closure

Nearly 3,000 people sign up

Nearly 3,000 people have signed a petition against plans that would realistically see the closure of the first hospital built under the NHS.

The Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has consulted about moving services from Teignmouth Community Hospital to a new £8 million health centre in the town when it is built. It would then be up to the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to determine the future of the site.

Under the proposals, community clinics will move to the new facility, specialist outpatient clinics and day case procedures move to Dawlish Hospital. Plans for 12 rehabilitation beds at Teignmouth Community Hospital would be dropped.

Devon County Council’s health and adult care scrutiny committee heard thatpeople in Teignmouth that they wanted to see the hospital saved. They  agreed to review the CCG’s proposals.

Gerald Lavis called for the proposals to be ditched as the majority of people said that moving the clinic would cause them difficulties, while John Smith questioned the rush to make a decision in the middle of a health crisis.

Cllr David Cox, who represents Teignmouth on Teignbridge District Council, added that while there were emotional reasons to keep the hospital, there were also medical reasons. He added: “Teignmouth needs and deserves to keep its hospital. There has to be intermediate care for people who don’t need a full surgical bed at a hospital but cannot yet return home. This is a penny-wise, pound-foolish proposal.”

Cllr Alistair Dewhirst virtually handed over a petition with 2,783 signatures against the CCG’s plans, and said: “This was the first hospital built under the new NHS and represents all that is great about the NHS, and I have yet to meet a constituent who doesn’t want me to save the hospital.

“Hospital services will be transferred to another town, and that could never be described at anything other than second best. The proposals are either to go to a health centre with no parking or to another town all together, so is it any wonder that so many are opposed to the change? The report doesn’t say how many people were for or against it.”

Cllr Sylvia Russell, who represents the Teignmouth ward, said she wanted to thank the campaigners and that it was remarkable how the local population has been behind the campaign. She added: “I don’t think CCG have put a clear enough case to close the hospital and I thank the objectors for the efforts they have made and I hope there will be a successful outcome that suits all of us.”

Committee chairman Cllr Sara Randall-Johnson confirmed that if they were not satisfied with the process that had been carried out then they had the option to refer any closure to the secretary of state, but added: “We are attempting to encourage the CCG to make the right decision on behalf of the local people and we will be in a better position to do that once we have seen the Healthwatch report.”

Jo Turl, director of commissioning said: “If the proposal goes ahead, then will be no services left in the Teignmouth hospital site and so will for all intense and purposes be closed, but what happens to the building in the future is not for the CCG to decide, but we won’t be commissioning any services. It will be a Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust decision as to what happens with the building.”

The committee unanimously agreed that a spotlight review over the CCG’s plans should be carried out once the Healthwatch report and recommendations was published at the end of the month, and they urged the CCG not to make a final decision until that review took place.