The fight to save Teignmouth Hospital goes on. As a Group, the Liberal Democrat councillors on Teignbridge have submitted a Motion for the full council meeting on 12 January.
The Motion has been formally proposed by Cllr David Cox and seconded by Cllr Nina Jefferies.
Cllr David Cox said: “We haven’t given up, trying to save Teignmouth Hospital. The hospital is needed and could help the NHS save millions.”
Cllr Nina Jeffries , said: “The services and point of contact that community hospitals offer are needed and valued. We have an increasingly aging population with depleted public transport, all of which make the need for a local community hospital so very important. We must save Teignmouth hospital it will be a devastating blow to the community if we don’t.”
“TEIGNMOUTH HOSPITAL – SUPPORTING PATIENTS & THE COMMUNITY
Across Devon, Community Hospitals such as Teignmouth have played a vital role in healthcare, providing of range of inpatient and outpatient healthcare 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 the acute hospitals, such as Torbay, are immense and made worse by the lack of beds in the community to which patients could be discharged by Torbay.
Recent figures from NHS England show an average of 41 beds per day were occupied by people ready to be discharged from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in October – though this was down from 45 the month before, a local media outlet has reported.
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 the wider district.
Council asks the Managing Director to write to: The Chairs and Chief Executives of the Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, The relevant Members of Parliament and the Secretary of State for Health asking for a review of the hospital closure plans, mindful of the pressures on local acute hospitals through delayed discharges to other appropriate provision.”