Health Minister Visits North Devon District Hospital

Health Minister, Karin Smyth, today visited North Devon District Hospital alongside local Liberal Democrat MP, Ian Roome, to tour key departments and meet staff as part of further efforts to secure long-overdue funding for the hospital rebuild and upgrades.

The Minister was shown around the Intensive Care Unit, operating theatres, and the Women’s and Children’s Unit by NHS staff and the Our Future Hospital team. During the visit, staff spoke candidly about the mounting logistical and clinical challenges caused by the hospital’s ageing and piecemeal estate.

The staff stressed that the outdated infrastructure causes serious day-to-day operational difficulties, difficulties that would not exist in a modern, purpose-built facility.

The Minister’s visit follows repeated calls from Ian Roome MP and local campaigners for action on the critical state of the local hospital buildings, including an Open Letter signed by nearly 6,000 in the community initiated by North Devon’s MP. Mr Roome has made clear that the long-awaited redevelopment plans are urgently needed for both local patients and the hospital’s staff.

Ventilation infrastructure at NDDH has, in many cases, never been upgraded and is beyond repair when it breaks down. Failures pose a direct risk to patients and staff and the hospital’s future operations.

North Devon’s Liberal Democrat MP, Ian Roome, said:

"It was essential we showed the Minister around our Intensive Care Unit and Operating Theatres to see the reality. This government is staking its reputation on rescuing our NHS: so it was vital that we made our case now.

“Large parts of North Devon District Hospital still date back to 1978, and we need investment in its critical care infrastructure in particular, before it's too late. As senior doctors told the Minister very plainly today in Barnstaple: 2035 will be too late.

“Our NHS Trust have been quite clear: what they most need is a new surgical unit, costing around £120m. Their plans are targeted and realistic, so the ball is back with the Government.

“As I urged the Minister: nobody expects miracles, but patients in North Devon need to see action.

“North Devon District Hospital has been doing its best with what it has for far too long, and I thank every single person who’s backed the campaign so far. I will continue to push for the investment it needs; the fight for our Hospital goes on.”