AN APPEAL has gone out for supporters to back Teignmouth councillors’ bid to get a review of the closure of the town’s hospital.

Teignbridge Council’s full council meets on Thursday, January 12, and Teignmouth members Cllrs David Cox and Nina Jeffries have formally proposed a motion declaring their support for keeping the hospital open.

Now councillors are inviting supporters to join them at the meeting, which is being held at Buckland Athletic Football Club in Newton Abbot.

Campaigners say the fight to save the hospital is more important now in the wake of increased pressure on the NHS.

Despite a final decision six months ago to move services to a new £8milion health centre in the centre of Teignmouth, Liberal Democrat councillors in Teignbridge are asking for the closure decision to be reviewed.

Their motion follows a concerted campaign to save the hospital which was the first to be built by the NHS in 1954.

Councillors are asking for supporters to attend the meeting to back their plans asking for a review of the decision to close the Mill Lane hospital.

It says: ‘Across Devon, community hospitals such as Teignmouth have played a vital role in healthcare providing a range of inpatient and outpatient care, close to the community.

‘Over the past two decades, Devon has seen a steady and relentless decline in community hospital beds and services, Teignmouth is no exception.

‘Pressures on acute hospitals such as Torbay are immense and have been made worse by the lack of beds in the community to which patients could be discharged.

‘Recent figures from NHS England show an average of 41 beds per day were occupied by people ready to be discharged.

‘While positively welcoming the proposed new Health Hub in the centre of Teignmouth, this council also affirms its support for Teignmouth Hospital and believes it should continue to play an integral part in the healthcare provision for the town and its wider district.’

The motion calls for Teignbridge Council to ask the managing director to write to the chairmen and chief executives of Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust, Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, relevant Members of Parliament and the Secretary of State for health asking for a review of the hospital closure plans, being mindful of the pressure on local acute hospitals through delayed discharges.’

Despite the opposition, health bosses announced the decision to close Teignmouth Hospital last year with services moving to Dawlish Hospital and a new £8 million health centre to be built in Teignmouth town centre.