The chief executive of Devon Primary Care Trust has said that more patients should be treated closer to home and that community hospitals should expand their range of services.
If his words are transformed into actions it could mean a bright future for communities such as Bovey Tracey, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, where hospital services have been under threat. Dr Snee has promised to re-open closed beds and extend opening hours at minor injury units countywide, although details have yet to be released.
He said he was 'fully aware' of the problems that the size and rural nature of the county presented but that he wanted to 'make the most' of the county's 21 community hospitals. 'From April we will be looking at a planned approach to extend the opening hours of minor injury units at a number of hospitals across Devon,' he said.
'We will also be re-opening some of the closed beds and reviewing others ahead of a strategic review into the full range of services we offer in the county. 'I wouldn't want to second guess what that review might find, but what I would say is that if we used community hospitals more then we would be able to treat increased numbers of patients closer to their homes.'
Mayor of Bovey Tracey, Cllr George Gribble, said he was pleased to hear of the new trust's commitment. 'I really did lay into the old Teignbridge PCT about the importance of our hospital, we were very concerned and tried very hard to get them on board,' he said. 'We have since heard whispers about what might be happening in the future and so if it is true that we could provide more services for people without the need for them to travel to Torbay or wherever then that would be most welcome.
'We will do everything in our power to maintain and improve health services and care for our elderly.' Cllr Donald Joint, mayor of Buckfastleigh, described Dr Snee's comments as 'exceptionally good news' and said community hospitals were crucial, particularly when they served rural areas such as Dartmoor.
He confessed that he had privately feared for the future of Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Hospital, saying: 'To be honest I expected the worst.'