SO responsibility for Crediton Hospital is to pass to the Royal Devon and Exeter.

It always seemed odd to us to place control of this area (and others even further south and east) under Barnstaple, and our experience has not been reassuring.

We were assured that following the closure of our hospital beds patients would actually benefit because of enhanced services in their own homes.

But these services have not materialised, and we hear of instances of patients who have to be taken to hospital by emergency ambulance, or who cannot be discharged from there, because community services are simply not available for them.

Can we hope for better from the Royal Devon and Exeter?

It is public knowledge that last winter (mild thou it was) saw the hospital in black alert, in red alert and then in black, so it clearly needs more hospital beds.

But while the RD and E is to be providing community health services in this area, the decision about what services will be provided will rest with the Clinical Commissioning Group.

A member of this CCG is chairman of the Crediton Steering Group which exists to plan "hub" services based at the hospital (these are almost all services which have been running for up to 20 years, but let that pass); local residents, including members of the League of Hospital Friends and the town clerk, can take part in discussion here, but have no power to make decisions, and discussion of hospital beds is specifically excluded.

It is most disappointing that the people of Crediton who have over the years contributed so generously to the hospital should have so little voice in determining its future and I hope they will continue to take every opportunity of making their voices heard.

Mary Collins

Chairman

League of Friends of Crediton Hospital