MP sends BIG message to health secretary calling for vital upgrades to North Devon District Hospital

A giant letter calling on the Government to reverse its decision to pull the plug on improvements to North Devon District Hospital has been unveiled in the middle of Barnstaple High Street.

North Devon MP Ian Roome took his campaign for upgrades to the hospital to the streets and gathered many more signatures to add to an almost 6,000 strong petition calling for the original funding pledge to be met.

The hospital had been promised major improvements by the previous Conservative government but the current Labour government has frozen the plans due to lack of money and said the work will not be done for 10 years at least.

Above: Adding names to the giant letter calling on the Health Secretary to reverse his decision to withhold funding for improvements to North Devon District Hospital. Credit: Ian Roome

Mr Roome said: “The community is fiercely loyal to our hospital and its staff, but if we don’t modernise the infrastructure, it simply won’t keep pace with changing demands on the NHS.

“Despite empty promises, five years went by under the last Conservative government without any sign of new funding under the New Hospital Programme. If the new government allow another 10 years to go by without vital upgrades to our hospital’s most critical care facilities, it will be a disaster.”

Mr Roome recently challenged the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, in the House of Commons, asking for a ministerial visit to North Devon to see the need for urgent investment – something the minister agreed to.

The giant letter unveiled in Barnstaple was addressed to the Health Secretary and queues formed as shoppers gathered to add their name to it.

Volunteers and local councillors, including Devon County Council Liberal Democrat Group Leader Caroline Leaver, have been hard at work rallying support across the area served by the hospital, which is among the remotest in the UK.

Mr Rome added: “The hospital is very dear to me – I worked alongside countless colleagues at NDDH for many years and my children were born there.

“My deepest thanks to everyone who keeps fighting this battle - seeing the public’s support restores your faith.”