‘THE last roll of the dice’ is how those campaigning to save Teignmouth Hospital have described the actions of councillors seeking to secure a second referral to save the hospital.
They will be out in force at another meeting of Devon County Council’s health and adult care scrutiny committee on Wednesday January 24 which will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to refer the proposed closure of Teignmouth Community Hospital back to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the grounds that the decision is not in the best interests of the health service for the local population.
Ardent campaigner Geralyn Arthurs said:‘Many of you will be aware that this is the last roll of the dice to save our hospital because at the end of January all health authorities lose the privilege of referring the proposed closure of their hospitals to the Secretary of State.
‘Ten years ago, we were asked by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to “keep an open mind” over their vision for our health and wellbeing.
‘Some of us were sceptical that by closing the X-ray department, transferring the Minor Injury Unit to Dawlish and only retaining 12 rehabilitation beds this would secure the long term future of Teignmouth Community Hospital.
‘Sadly, six years ago the CCG reneged on its original public consultation by removing all the inpatient beds, claiming that the ‘new model of care’ was so effective that the trust could look after four times as many patients in their own homes as it could on a hospital ward within Teignmouth Hospital.’
Geralyn said they had asked for research-based evidence which had been claimed to back that statement, especially as this is required when major health service provision is to be altered or removed.
But she said the research produced did not compare ‘home based care’ with ‘inpatient care’.
She said: ‘Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, seven years on, has not been able to provide us with any evidence for the efficacy of its model of care. This is extremely worrying because with an increasing population, many elderly, common sense would state we need more health service provision, not less.
‘Teignmouth needs to retain its hospital and provide a Health and Wellbeing Centre for its residents to ensure that the health service provision for our area is future proofed. We have fought this battle because the proposal to close Teignmouth Community Hospital makes no health or economic sense.
‘We have done all we can and we are grateful to our town, parish and district councils for supporting us.
‘It is an uphill struggle as no hospital has received two referrals, but if there is a large presence from the public DCC councillors will realise that people genuinely care about our NHS and want it to become the envy of the world as it was in the past.
‘If we all work together this would be possible.’
Meanwhile Teignmouth district and county councillor David Cox appealed for supporters to join in the demonstration.
Speaking at a meeting of Teignbridge Council’s full council, he urged fellow members to reinforce the authority’s commitment to the hospital.
He reminded members that the council had previously voted unanimously against its closure.