SUPPORTERS of Teignmouth Hospital are hopeful there could be a way to secure a review of its future.

There was no time to discuss a motion put to Teignbridge Council’s full council yesterday by Teignmouth councillors David Cox and Nina Jeffries to ask for the closure decision to be reviewed.

But Cllr Cox says he believes there is an ‘indication’ the district council’s ruling executive will support their bid when it meets next month.

After the full council meeting, Cllr Cox said: ‘I believe we are winning the battle of ideas; with the League of Friends now is the time to put forward proposals for a rehabilitation unit at Teignmouth Hospital.

‘The support at the meeting was really positive as it showed and strength of feeling in Teignmouth.’

He and Cllr Jeffries thanked everyone who attended the meeting held at Buckland Athletic Football Club and said it did make a difference.

Up to 30 people were at the meeting to back the proposal asking for the closure decision to be looked at again in the wake of the current hospital crisis.

After the meeting, a spokesman for the League of Friends of Teignmouth Hospital said it ‘continues to vigorously oppose the ridiculous proposal to close our beloved hospital’. 

They said: 'The present crisis illustrates so well the need for local rehabilitation beds which could take those considered fit for discharge whilst they await a care or other plans to allow them to leave and free up those beds.

‘We fully support the efforts of our local council to get the decision to close it reviewed and overturned.’

Viv Wilson MBE said: ‘If only the groups and clubs could round up a posse of their members to attend the next meeting, it would carry some weight.’

She declared: ‘This battle is not lost.’

The motion following years of fierce campaigning to save the hospital, the first to be built by the NHS in 1954.

Despite a final decision six months ago to move services to a new £8milion health centre in the centre of Teignmouth, supporters argue there is still a place for the Mill Lane site to be used to ease mounting pressure on the NHS.

Teignbridge Council’s executive committee will meet on February 7 at which the motion will be discussed.

Cllr Cox said: ‘We will carry on the fight and we are looking at making a formal proposal to use the hospital as a rehabilitation centre.

‘The NHS is using hotels for people who can be discharged so it is quite clear the system needs cottage hospitals like Teignmouth.’