MP says £5.4m funding for North Devon and Exeter hospitals does not go far enough

North Devon and Exeter hospitals are to get £5.4million in Government funding shared between them for critical building safety works.

It is part of a £750m Estates Safety Fund announced in the Autumn Budget to carry out much-needed work on deteriorating NHS hospital buildings.

The money for North Devon and Exeter will be spent on fixing outdated ventilation systems and fire safety works.

North Devon MP Ian Roome has welcomed the ‘modest but important’ funding for North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple but said it will not go far enough due to the state of the ageing building.

Mr Roome and local campaigners have been calling for more funding for NDDH after the Government announced that funding for a major upgrade of the hospital promised by the previous government had been put on hold until at least 2035.

His office claimed ventilation infrastructure at NDDH had in many cases, never been upgraded and was beyond repair when it broke down.

Mr Roome said: “On the one hand, it’s reassuring to see the Government listening to our calls about North Devon District Hospital and the critical funding needed for infrastructure like the air systems and ventilation.

“But let’s be clear… this funding is being split between the two hospitals and is far from what’s needed for our hospital.

“North Devon District Hospital faces a maintenance backlog of around £44million, including £13million just for the operating theatres. So yes, any cash is welcome, but there’s a long way to go.

“I’ll keep pressing for the full support our hospital and NHS here in North Devon needs.”