TEIGNMOUTH Hospital League of Friends is looking to boost membership. The fundraising body, which has provided vital medical equipment for Teignmouth Hospital, is holding a series of coffee mornings for would-be members. They are being held at, the Methodist church hall, Shaldon on Saturday, May 5, 10.30am, Methodist hall, Teignmouth on Thursday, May 17, 10am and the village hall, Bishopsteignton, on Saturday May 19, 10am. The league has supported the hospital for more than 50 years. A new lift, part-funded by the league, is now installed and nine beds on the ward should re-open by July but all 21-community hospitals are under review by the newly-formed Devon Primary Care Trust. Chairman Bob Naish said: We want to boost the membership of the league to demonstrate the level of local support for the hospital. 'It does not commit your time, only your interest in maintaining a full range of services available at the hospital,' he said. Meanwhile, the league has to turn itself into a campaigning organisation to fight for its hospital services, it was heard at a recent town council finance and general services committee. It is no longer about providing comfort to patients but providing major infrastructure, said Cllr Sylvia Russell. Cllr David Cox supported her saying: 'All the leagues in Devon have raised £8 million for their hospitals. 'The primary care trust should be grateful but they (the leagues) have been taken for granted. 'The leagues are having to take in the role of defending the hospitals as well,' he added. Councillors discussed the hospital's future amid rumours the nine beds due to re-open on the Kingfisher ward could stay closed until the autumn while nurses are found the staff them. Committee chairman Cllr Fred Tooley said he had heard rumours that it could October before staff are recruited. 'The existing staff are concerned – they want to know what's going on. They need the truth,' he said. Cllr Roy Phillips accused the trust of a public relations exercise. 'Staff have been told not to speak out but they do not know where they stand. 'What we are getting is a PR job, a lot of talk on this and that is all. Why are we putting up with it?' he said.
