CAMPIGNERS intent on saving Teignmouth Hospital are joining a county-wide day of protest at 2pm tomorrow (Saturday, July 17).

The Hands Off Teignmouth Hospital (HOTH) pressure group is taking part in the Devon campaign Save Our Hospital Services.

HOTH spokesman Geralyn Arthurs said: ‘Over the last decade cutbacks in NHS provision have seen many of our community hospitals first lose their MIU and X-ray units, followed by the removal of beds and finally hospital closure.’

Among those lost in recent years was Bovey Tracey Community Hospital, whose premises are now up for sale.

Geralyn continued: ‘Unlike Dartmouth Community Hospital we in Teignmouth still have OUR Community Hospital operating, though without our beds which we are requesting are returned so that Teignmouth once again has a fully functioning community hospital.

‘South Devon will host two venues for a national NHS Day of Action to highlight the corporate takeover bids and to show that we, the public, own the NHS.

In Teignbridge and the South Hams, groups will be campaigning to have MIUs reopened in both Totnes and Dawlish Hospitals.

People will gather at 10am on Vire Island, Totnes, where stalls will be set up and a ‘Tug-of-War’ will be staged between the public and private sector, while in North Devon protesters will congregate in Barnstaple, at 11am on the Library Fore Court.

Geralyn said: ‘Here in Teignmouth, we will be hosting a socially distanced rally in the hospital grounds and a march into town. We hope a large crowd will gather so that we can form a crocodile line snaking around the hospital showing that We Own It.

‘We ask the public to bring a banner/placard with them saying ‘I LOVE Teignmouth Hospital’ and if anybody has blue or white ribbons to bring them along, please, so that they can be waved when we set off on our march at 2.30pm.

‘We intend to reach the seafront near St Michael’s Church at 3pm and then continue along the seafront to the lighthouse and then walk back to The Den and still maintaining our social distance to assembly for our concluding rally at 3.30pm.

‘Please join us for part or all of this campaign to Save Teignmouth Hospital.

‘As we are still under Covid-19 restrictions please wear a mask and bear with us as we position you within the hospital grounds so that we ensure we are complying with the social distance rules. Thank you to all those who have supported the campaign.

‘Hopefully this will help the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Savid Javid, to find in our favour and Keep Teignmouth Hospital surviving and thriving.’