Gerald Lavers, of Moor View Drive, Teignmouth, writes:

By now we have been made aware of the NHS TRUST’s (what an inappropriate word!) proposals regarding the asset stripping of the Teignmouth Hospital resource.

The millions of pounds donated by the population of Teignmouth, Shaldon and Bishopsteignton, via the league of friends, the hundreds of thousand of pounds given by the trust to upgrade the hospital are, like so much money in the management of our hospitals, to be poured away.

No wonder the trust is not financially viable – is there no-one in management capable of financial housekeeping? We all have to do so in our homes! (Thank goodness none of this management are employed in breweries!). Not being publically elected who worries?

As taxpayers and supporters of the Teignmouth Hospital we have all been betrayed for more than 30 pieces of silver.

At the end of last year a report by a Plymouth University statistical research group, employed by the trust reported:- ‘... research so far cannot yet justify the new model of care…’

Specific research had been undertaken in the coastal region which again can give little source of confidence – 72 referrals analysed only 17 responded – hardly a justifiable sample (The whole report can be assessed online.)

To no surprise, just prior to further discussion, we have the arrival of a new set of statistics, released by the same research group, just in time for the new proposals (manna from heaven for the trust). It indicates that due to the amazing results of the introduction of the Health and Wellbeing Hub, soon there will be no need for hospitals or even doctors in the future with patients being treated in their own homes by amazing numbers of well-qualified care assistants. I do not apologise for my cynicism. I recognise the hard work being done by nurses, doctors and health workers but surely they were working just as hard prior to this approach.

Those now proposing changes were those stating we needed Teignmouth Hospital together with rehabilitaion beds, just two years ago. Can we ignore the well-publicised winter’s black situations in hospitals alongside the cancellation of planned operations and consultations? We are being told that the situation may not correct itself until summer!

Are we to sit back and pay the price or do we all object?

This includes the town council.