SUPPORTERS of Teignmouth Hospital are hopeful there could be a way to secure a review of its future.

There was no time to discuss a motion put to Teignbridge Council’s full council by Teignmouth councillors David Cox and Nina Jeffries to ask for the closure decision to be reviewed.

But Cllr Cox says he believes there is an ‘indication’ the district council’s ruling executive will support their bid when it meets next month.

There is a groundswell of support for using the ‘iconic’ building in Mill Lane, the first NHS hospital to be built in the country, into a charity-run rehabilitation centre.

Critics of the closure decision argue the hospital should now be used as a way of easing the current beds crisis.

Now, supporters say the February 7 executive meeting is ‘critical’ to the future of the hospital.

After the full council meeting, Cllr Cox said: ‘I believe we are winning the battle of ideas; with the League of Friends now is the time to put forward proposals for a rehabilitation unit at Teignmouth Hospital. The support at the meeting was really positive as it showed and strength of feeling in Teignmouth.’

He and Cllr Jeffries thanked everyone who attended the meeting held at Buckland Athletic Football Club and said it did make a difference.

Up to 30 people turned out to the meeting to back the proposal asking for the closure decision to be looked at again in the wake of the current hospital crisis.

After the meeting, Graham Bond from for the League of Friends of Teignmouth Hospital, said it ‘continues to vigorously oppose the ridiculous proposal to close our beloved hospital’. 

‘The present crisis illustrates so well the need for local rehabilitation beds which could take those considered fit for discharge whilst they await a care or other plans to allow them to leave and free up those beds.

‘We fully support the efforts of our local council to get the decision to close it reviewed and overturned.’

Viv Wilson MBE said: ‘If only the groups and clubs could round up a posse of their members to attend the next meeting, it would carry some weight.’ She declared: ‘This battle is not lost.’

The motion followed years of fierce campaigning to save the hospital, the first to be built by the NHS in 1954.

Despite a final decision six months ago to move services to a new £8milion health centre in the centre of Teignmouth, supporters argue there is still a place for the Mill Lane site to be used to ease mounting pressure on the NHS.

Teignbridge Council’s executive committee will meet on February 7 at which the motion will be discussed.

Cllr Cox said: ‘We will carry on the fight and we are looking at making a formal proposal to use the hospital as a rehabilitation centre.

‘The NHS is using hotels for people who can be discharged so it is quite clear the system needs cottage hospitals like Teignmouth.

‘We are grateful to Geralyn Arthurs who has kept the faith and not allowed the hospital campaign to fade.’

Supporters say the ‘spotlight’ should remain on Teignmouth Hospital as its services are ‘vital’ and the pressure must be kept up to save it.

The motion is calling on 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, 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 in Teignmouth town centre.