CLOSURE-threatened community hospitals in Devon should be used as health and well-being centres for local people, the county council is telling the NHS.

Devon County Council leader John Hart says any redundant community hospital buildings should be converted to health and well-being centres where it is appropriate.

“Looking after people as close to home as possible is the right thing to do,” he said.

There was cross-party support for a notice of motion to Devon County Council welcoming Health Secretary Matthew Hancock’s commitment to community hospitals.

He told the recent Conservative Party conference that “the era of blindly, invariably closing community hospitals is over”.

Councillors agreed that the county council should work closely with the NHS to influence decision-making and ensure any community hospitals that were closed should be used as health centres for local people where appropriate.

Tavistock county councillor and former nurse Debo Sellis told the council that it would not be appropriate to convert some ageing community hospital buildings because they were not capable of housing modern medical technology.