THE Crediton and Area Branch of Devon Senior Voice (DSV) is taking the lead in trying to save the overnight beds at Crediton Hospital. At a recent meeting of the Devon Senior Voice branch, two members of the North East and West Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (New Devon CCG), Doctors Jenner and Mays, both part-time local GPs, spoke, amongst other things, of the possibility of closing the overnight beds at Crediton Hospital and changing the facility to an enhanced day care service offering chiropody, hearing tests and physiotherapy, etc. In a letter to the Courier (see letters pages this issue), Paula Kovacs, on behalf of the Crediton and Area branch of DSV, writes: "Many members of our community, some of which were directly involved with the initial fundraising to have the hospital built, oppose this idea of an enhanced day care service to replace the overnight beds and feel it is imperative that they stay in use." She highlights reasons why a fully functioning local community hospital is important. She adds that the compelling argument for keeping overnight beds at Crediton hospital open, is that they offer crucial rehabilitation which also allows for long-term planning post-discharge. "They also provide close to home end-of-life care and accessible visiting for family at this most sensitive of times," she said. She explains that visiting the RD and E (Royal Devon and Exeter) Hospital in Exeter is difficult, adding that the land on which Crediton Hospital is built was gifted at a reduced price to the community by the late Dr Thurlow. Fundraising in the community, as well as donations, funded some of the wards and equipment at the hospital. DSV will be holding a rally in Crediton Town Square on Saturday, July 5, during the Farmers' Market from 10am to 1pm to gather signatures for a petition to present to the New Devon CCG before the end of July. This is when the CCG plan to make their decision about the future of the hospital beds. Everyone is urged to go along and sign the petition by the branch. • What do you think about the plans under discussion to remove beds from Crediton Hospital? Share your thoughts with fellow "Courier" readers. Write a letter or send an email, suitable for publication, to: [email protected]">[email protected] .