Stakeholders to voice out on Sidmouth hospital plans

The creation of a ‘local stakeholder group’ to work alongside healthcare bosses will be top of the agenda at a meeting on the future of East Devon’s community hospitals in Sidmouth later this month.

The newly formed group will then play a part in the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) ‘transforming community services’ consultation.

The proposals outline the CCG’s vision for future healthcare across East Devon, but would see the newly refurbished minor injuries unit at Sidmouth Victoria Hospital close.

This comes after the CCG recently announced a six-week extension to the consultation, which will now run until February 15.

A commissioning group spokesperson said: “[The meeting] will focus on forming a local stakeholder group, who will work with the CCG as part of the extended consultation, to hear further information before any long-term decision is made about the future of community hospitals and services.”

The meeting, at Knowle on Wednesday, January 14, will include county councillors from across East Devon as well as representatives from each hospital’s league of friends.

Members of the public are invited to attend as observers but will not be able to contribute.

Places for the meeting, which starts at 7pm, can be booked by calling Stacey Avery on 01392 356102.