David Leonard, of Thurlestone Gardens, Dartmouth, writes:

Perhaps residents of Dartmouth can be forgiven for being wary of statements from the local clinical commissioning group.

When the minor injuries unit at Dartmouth and Kingswear Hospital first closed, we were told that it was a temporary measure due to staff shortage.

Later, the closure was stretched because new staff had been hired but needed to be trained, then the MIU would be open for the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta.

Now, it seems that the MIU is unlikely ever to reopen.

In its document Into the Future, outlining proposals to reorganise healthcare in south Devon, the clinical commissioning group tells us that no decision to close the hospital will be made until after the period of consultation.

Yet we learn that the NHS has agreed a 35-year lease with the owners of River View to accommodate some of the services that will be displaced from the hospital.

Hardly surprising, then, that the closure of our hospital sounds like a ‘done deal’ and the current ‘consultation’ a mere charade.

As has already been said, the closure of hospital on its present site may very well be the best solution for Dart­mouth.

Important groups in the town, including our local doctors and Dartmouth Caring, are supporting the proposals because they will deliver improvements in care, particularly care in the home.

However, to many residents, it feels as if we are being short-changed by the CCG, particularly when comparing our town with other local towns of similar size.

Principal points of contention are:

l Why isn’t the very large sum of money that will be gained from sale of the current hospital site ring-fenced for the people of Dartmouth and used to create a ‘clinical hub’ in Dartmouth?

l The current proposals appear not to take account of the isolated geographical location of Dartmouth. Residents of other local towns have much easier access to alternative hubs in Newton Abbot or Brixham, as well as the main district hospital in Torquay.

l Why are residents of Dartmouth expected to travel some 15 miles to Totnes on inadequate public transport for their nearest MIU, X-ray unit, physiotherapy, routine appointments etc? The proposed clinical hub should be located in Dartmouth.

l What evidence was used to decide that four beds at River View is sufficient to serve a town of some 7,000 residents ­– a number that is likely to increase in the near future following recent planning decisions?

The NHS must make savings but a large and complex organisation presents many opportunities to do so without isolating a relatively large urban population from frontline services.

Dartmouth needs its own clinical hub and, following sale of the current hospital site, the NHS will have the funds to make it happen.