IT was encouraging to see so many people at our Saturday afternoon meeting at the Boniface Centre on Saturday - including people from the catchment areas of other hospitals. At this meeting we formed a group to urge our case for the reopening and retention of our hospital beds: the Devon Community Hospital Beds Campaign. Existing members of Crediton Hospital's League of Friends are now also members of this Campaign group. The Crediton area petition to the Commissioning Group comprised some 3,500 signatures and there is clearly strong support in the community for our hospital beds to be restored, but we have yet to learn that it has any effect. The policy of closing community hospital beds despite the clearly expressed needs and wishes of the local population is uncaring and profoundly undemocratic. Please contact your local councillor and your general practice patients' group, write in to the Courier and other local newspapers to express your views - and come and join us. Membership forms can be obtained from me, other committee members - or the Courier office in the High Street. Mary Collins Chairman League of Friends of Crediton Hospital