CAMILLA de Bernhardt Lane, Devon County Council’s Scrutiny Committee manager, has responded to the letter of concern it received from Crediton Hospital League of Friends which the League of Friends Committee has issued for public awareness.

The letter reads:

"Dear Committee of Crediton Hospital League of Friends,

"Thank you for writing to the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee at Devon County Council. I am the Scrutiny Officer that supports the Committee in question.

"In July of this year Members did consider whether the decision to close community hospital beds following the Eastern Locality consultation on ‘Your Future Care’ should be sent to the Secretary of State. As you rightly state the Committee determined not to make a formal referral. A free vote was allowed in line with scrutiny procedures. However, it is the Committee’s understanding that this consultation did not cover the closure of community hospital beds in Credition, as the NEW Devon CCG governing body made this decision in July 2015.

"You have asked the Committee to investigate how the RD and E plan to deliver a full health care service to Crediton and rural communities and to write back to you with the committee’s findings within the month. The Committee can determine if they wish to add this to their work programme at their next meeting on November 21.

"Thank you for your invite to attend the league of friends meeting on November 30, however I am unclear who this is addressed to. I would suggest that you liaise with your local County Councillor, Nick Way, who is also a member of the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee.

"I can assure you that many of the concerns that you outline in your email are indeed shared by Devon County Councillors.

"High on this list is the issue of rural access to services and transportation. This has been an enduring line of enquiry pursued by the Health and Adult Scrutiny Committee and before it, the Health and Well-being Scrutiny Committee.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you of some of the work that the Council is undertaking with regard to concerns around healthcare in Devon. In October this year the Leader of the Council wrote to the Secretary of State for Health to reinforce concerns around budget settlements for the Health Service in Devon with funding received from central government and the need to make deep cuts to accommodate the funding shortfall in the Devon Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

"The Health and Adult Care Committee has recently undertaken a spotlight review session to look at the current state of the NHS and where it will be in five years’ time.

"This session spoke to 20 witnesses from organisations across Devon. The report and findings from this session will be reported back to a future Committee meeting where the Committee will be able to determine the next steps.

"There are of course enduring concerns about how quality services are provided across Devon and the fact that these issues have and continue to be discussed in the public Scrutiny Committee demonstrates the significance of these issues for scrutiny Members."

Camilla de Bernhardt Lane

Head of Scrutiny

Copies to Councillor Sara Randall Johnson and Councillor Nick Way

• Editor’s note: The League of Friends committee vice-chairman, Judi Binks, told the "Courier": "At its meeting on Thursday, November 30, the League of Friends will formulate a measured response, taking into account the findings of Mel Stride MP, Cllr Nick Way and feedback from local key bodies."

Alan Quick