A LAST ditch plan to try to save Teignmouth Hospital from closure has failed after county councillors voted against referring the decision back to the Secretary of State for Health. 

Members of Devon County Council’s health and adult care scrutiny committee voted yesterday not to pressure the secretary of state for health over the planned closure of the hospital, the first NHS hospital to be built in the country.

After years of campaigning to keep the historic hospital site open, the final chance of trying to stave off the closure had a very slim chance of success. 

With the committee’s vote, that avenue is now dead in the water. 

Teignmouth county councillor David  Cox said it was ‘very sad news’.

He said: ‘A fantastic number of people from the Teignmouth area came to lobby county councillors. 

‘I think we need a parish poll (referendum) to show local people want to keep Teignmouth Hospital.’

The NHS proposal to close the hospital was part of a cost-cutting measure but plans have been approved to built a well-being centre in the town. 

Councillor Chris Clarance, Teignbridge District Council chairman, said he was disappointed by the decision not to refer the matter to the health secretary.

He said: ‘It was terrible.

‘It was not what I was expecting. 

‘I was hoping the committee would stick with the original task group’s finding to refer only for them to U-turn.’

Campaigner Viv Wilson said Teignmouth Hospital was an ‘essential’ part of the community.

She argued NHS plans for a new health and wellbeing centre in the town would not meet demand.

She said: ‘The decision to close Teignmouth Hospital is wrong.

‘The hospital is an essential part of the health and wellbeing of that particular part of Devon - their proposal to spend £23m on a health hub, which is not a hospital, just really won’t fit the bill.’