I WAS pleased to meet recently with representatives from the NHS, Moretonhampstead Health Centre and the local Hospital Working Group to discuss the future of Moretonhampstead Hospital.

It was a constructive and focused conversation, rooted in a shared understanding of how important local healthcare provision is to our community.

At the heart of our discussion was the future of the hospital site and how it can continue to serve residents for years to come.

One of the key ideas explored was the potential to retain the site as a community health and wellbeing hub. This would allow a range of services to be delivered locally, helping people access care closer to home and reducing the need to travel further afield.

This matters deeply in rural areas such as ours. Nationally, around 90 per cent of patient contacts with the NHS take place in primary and community settings, yet these services receive a significantly smaller share of overall NHS funding compared with hospital care.

In areas like Devon, where distances can be greater and public transport more limited, the value of accessible local provision is even more apparent.

We also know that demand on health services continues to rise. England’s population is ageing, with the number of people aged over 65 projected to increase by more than a third over the next two decades.

Alongside this, more people are living with long term conditions that require ongoing care and support.

This makes it all the more important to think carefully about how community facilities such as Moretonhampstead Hospital can play a role in meeting these needs.

The discussion was not about quick fixes but about finding a sustainable and practical path forward. One that secures the hospital buildings in local ownership.

There is a route but it needs work. I am very much here for the local community on this and will do whatever I can to assist and I am hugely impressed with the commitment and focus of the local team.

I am very aware of the strength of feeling locally about the future of the hospital. It is more than just a building. It represents reassurance, accessibility and a sense of local identity.

Many residents have personal connections it, whether through treatment, work or volunteering.

My role is to ensure that those voices are heard and that all parties remain engaged in finding a positive outcome.

I will continue to work closely with the NHS, local groups and stakeholders to support a solution that reflects both local needs and long term sustainability.

There is still work to be done, but the willingness to collaborate that I saw in this meeting is encouraging.

By working together, we can give Moretonhampstead the best possible chance of retaining a valuable local health resource for the future. I am here to help in any way that I can.

Mel Stride MP X: @MelJStride Instagram: @melstridemp Website: www.melstridemp.com

Mel Stride

MP for Central Devon