FURTHER to Sue Reed's article about Crediton Hospital and the recent Stroke Unit "consultation" (Courier front page, January 24), I entirely agree that more information is urgently needed.

Reading between the lines and the opacity of the answers (for example the phrase, "potential ramifications") it is obvious that the New Devon CCG plan is to close our stroke unit and follow this up by removing the remaining medical beds.

A new stroke unit is apparently planned in Exeter, presumably at the RD&E, where parking for visitors is becoming a nightmare.

According to Sue Cutting and Dr Mejzner, the support team "one of the best" that was so successfully piloted in Budleigh, Exmouth and Exeter would be ideal as a stroke "pathway" for Crediton too.

But these three centres are in concentrated urban areas unlike the far-flung rurality of Crediton's district, where their success may not necessarily be repeated.

The problem with both the above proposals is indeed the geographical nature of Crediton and its vast hinterland.

Crediton is the eccentric centre (i.e. not in the middle) of our district, and viewed from Exeter we must seem (wrongly) to be almost a suburb of the city.

But our rural population is at least double that of Crediton and much further away from Exeter than Crediton is itself.

The CCG's ideas give absolutely no assurance that Crediton will have proper Community facilities based at Crediton Hospital.

The history of recent years has been of progressive piecemeal reduction of services.

For example, even today Podiatry/Chiropody is being reduced and some very dependent home patients do not always receive the anticipated visit from their carer.

If we let the hospital go, Crediton will revert to the impoverished "Cinderella" sister she was before our hospital was built, with all medical "goodies" going to surrounding districts.

There has been a huge input from our community, both financial and emotional; not to mention Dr Thurlow generously selling her land to the Health Authority at less than the open-market price and also the funds raised for the Gifty Steer Unit and the Dr Markby room, among others.

There is a feeling that no one has a comprehensive overall plan for top-rate services for our Community Hospital.

Our urban, rural and Westminster politicians and others need to address this problem urgently, and to appoint a local leader and suitable team to take a firm "grip" on this important matter.

Next time can the CCG please provide effective publicity for future meetings? I had no inkling this one was happening or I would have attended.

Dr. Christopher

Maycock

Neopardy

Crediton