CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride was in Crediton on Friday, October 6 to discuss the future of Crediton Hospital with two former GPs and representatives from the Hospital’s League of Friends and Devon Senior Voice.
The meeting coincided with the launch of a major consultation by the area’s local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on the future of healthcare provision in the region, which runs from October 7 to January 6.
Among those giving their views to Mr Stride were former GP Dr Christopher Maycock, Dr John Boyle, John Higgs and Mary Collins from Crediton Hospital’s League of Friends, Ron Cutherbertson from the Crediton branch of Devon Senior Voice and Mid Devon District Councillor Judi Binks.
Speaking after their meeting Cllr Judi Binks said: “Our discussions centred around two key issues – the need to raise awareness about the current consultation and encourage residents in and around Crediton to have their say, and the kind of services that we hope will be available at our hospital when it becomes one of the CCG’s Health and Well-being Centres.
"At a minimum we understand this would be therapies and outpatient services, but we would also like to explore whether x-ray services or minor surgeries where the patient is only at the hospital for the day, would also be viable options.”
Mr Stride added: “Having pressed the CCG very hard on the need to fully engage with local residents, it is now vital that the community here in Crediton and the wider area responds to the consultation.
"Specifically, the CCG wants to know what kind of services residents would like to see operate locally in the future. With this in mind I have agreed to work with those present today to collate some key questions for the CCG to answer at this stage. We need to better understand what their thinking is on the future of local healthcare services.”
The consultation documents are available at: www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk and anyone without internet access can write to the CCG at Newcourt House, Newcourt Drive, Old Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7JQ or telephone 01392 267665 and ask to be sent a copy.
Alan Quick