Central Devon MP Mel Stride has written to NHS Devon seeking reassurances on the reopening of Bovey Tracey Hospital.

It has been closed for improvements for most of the year and it appears there is no definite time frame for it reopening.

'I have received a reply from NHS Devon saying the hospital will reopen, but there is no timescale for this,' he said.

'I remain concerned it remains closed as I was under the impression this was a temporary move to enable emergency building work to take place.

'I have told residents I will keep up the pressure on the NHS to reopen the hospital as soon as possible.

'Travelling to other facilities is potentially difficult for some local people and this can be a real problem when a loved one is hospitalised.'

A spokesman for Torbay and Southern Devon Care Trust, which runs Bovey Tracey Hospital, said they had written to Mr Stride earlier this month about the temporary relocation of inpatient care from Bovey Tracey Hospital to Newton Abbot.

The spokesman added that the trust provided assurances that these services will recommence as soon as it can be confident of their quality.

'The safety and wellbeing of patients is our highest priority and, while we understand the current action has caused some concerns, we are committed to doing what is necessary to provide the local community with sustainable and safe NHS services,' said the spokesman.

'We are working hard to make the necessary improvements to inpatient care swiftly and sensibly and to recommencing these services in the town as soon as possible.'

These improvements include a comprehensive scheme of training and supervision and the recruitment of new clinical and support staff to ensure safe and appropriate staff levels within the hospital at all times.

'This is a rolling improvement programme and as such we cannot, at this stage, provide a date for recommencing inpatient services at Bovey Tracey,' added the spokesman.

'However, as we recently reiterated in a letter sent to a number of key stakeholders within the local community, we are absolutely committed to doing so once we are confident of the sustained safety of these services.

'We would like to thank the community of Bovey Tracey for their patience and understanding during this work.'