Over 5,500 signatures collected for open letter to Health Secretary

An open letter sent to the Health Secretary by local North Devon MP Ian Roome has surpassed 5,500 signatures.

The open letter, addressed to Health Secretary Wes Streeting by Ian Roome, challenges him to honour his pledge and visit North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) following the announcement of delays to its rebuild.

ABOVE: Above is the open letter sent by Ian Roome to the Health Secretary

After the announcement that funding for critical infrastructure upgrades at North Devon District Hospital will be delayed until after 2035, Ian Roome MP issued an open letter, inviting the community to lend their support by adding their signatures.

In just one day, around 2,500 people across the region signed.

In the letter, North Devon’s MP emphasised the urgent need for the funding, pointing out that NDDH is the most remote acute hospital in mainland England and that its operating theatres and intensive care unit (ICU) are nearly 50 years old.

He also referenced the government’s increased housing targets in North Devon and questioned how the hospital could sustain services without adequate financial support.

Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, said: “I’ve been campaigning for this hospital funding since day one. Having worked alongside staff there for many years myself, I’ve seen firsthand the struggles. The staff are incredible, but without proper facilities, their hands are tied.

“We need Wes Streeting to come and see for himself the high level of infrastructure risk on site. Our community has had enough of empty promises. We cannot wait until the planned 2035 date for the essential rebuild of our hospital.”