Hospital Petition & Letters

The Moretonhampstead Hospital League of Friends is deeply disappointed and saddened by the announcement of the ‘ temporary closure’ of the in patient beds at our much loved Community Hospital.  

Our initial concern is of course for the present patients whose clinical outcomes may be affected by their being moved to hospitals at least 15 miles away from their homes, friends and families as it is a well documented fact that moving patients from hospital to hospital is very bad for their health and recovery prospects.

For the future, our concern is that this ‘ temporary closure ‘ is not temporary at all and that once closed our valuable in-patient beds will be lost forever at some cost to the health and well being of the wider community of N E Dartmoor. The previous ‘ temporary closures ‘ of our Minor Injuries Unit and hospital kitchens turned out to be permanent and so we have some reason to be concerned. Whilst we appreciate that the cost of running a small community hospital, one of the smallest in the UK, does not have the economies of scale that a larger hospital may have, the contribution to the health of the community is incalculable and invaluable.

 Wendy Hawes and myself are your representatives in the League of Friends and will be attending an Open Meeting to be held at 2.00 p.m. in St. Andrew’s Church, Moretonhampstead, when we hope more details will emerge of the actual plans for the hospital.  If you are able to attend I think this would be helpful.  We are putting a Petition in the Ring of Bells and in the back of our own Church to enable you to pop in and add your name to the growing number of people who feel the need to take action in some small way.  I have been told that individual letters, however, would be much more effective and would ask you each to write individually to: 

Mr Roger French, Chairperson, North Devon Healthcare Trust, Trust Headquarters, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4JB

and perhaps to copy your letter to:

Mel Stride, 2a,Manaton Court, Manaton Close, Matford Business Park, Exeter EX2 8PF

THIS IS YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL – PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR ATTEMPT TO STAVE OFF ANY ATTEMPT TO CLOSE IT.

Kind regards

Margaret Renouf & Wendy Hawes