Seaton Hospital wing was NOT handed back on 31 December
Happy New Year. Here’s the latest from the Hospital campaign:
Just before Christmas, Devon NHS’s board told us that it had postponed its handover of part of Seaton Hospital to the Property Services company, which was due to have happened on 31st December.
- The delay came after we asked for the original report that the board had approved. We found that it referred only to the ‘former ward accommodation’ – the ground floor of the wing that they want to hand over – and NOT the wing as a whole, including first floor spaces which the NHS are still using (see photo). We pointed out that they therefore did not have authority to dispose of the whole wing.
We were also disturbed to see that the report claimed:
- ‘The One Public Estate function hosted by Devon County Council are supportive of a disposal and have offered financial support of up to £20k per unit through the Brownfield Land Funding scheme to help with feasibility studies should a disposal result in housing units being developed.’
One Public Estate links public sector bodies’ estate policies, and what they have told me is rather different:
- ‘Devon and Torbay OPE Partnership has not had informal or formal conversations about the disposal of parts of Seaton Hospital.’ – I am asking Devon NHS what’s been going on.
The way forward:
- Our Seaton Hospital Steering Committee is moving ahead with work on how to use any spaces which are eventually handed back to NHS Property Services.
- Devon Health Scrutiny Committee is expecting to hear back from the Devon NHS board and Property Services at its meeting on 24 January. We will be discussing the agenda before the meeting with East Devon councillors who are members of the Committee.
Still spaces for the FREE 3 Course Christmas Day community meal at Pebbles
There are still spaces for the FREE 3 Course Christmas Day community meal being hosted by Pebbles Coffee House – Seaton at 12.30pm. If you’d like to go or know someone who might, please phone Pebbles on 441970 – they are waiting for you! Merry Christmas.
Hospital supporters to celebrate campaign so far this Wednesday
Some of the people who’ve been actively campaigning for Seaton Hospital over the last few weeks are getting together for pre-Christmas drinks at the Old Picture House, Harbour Road, Seaton, this Wednesday from 6.30. Why not drop in and join us for an hour or two? (It will also be an opportunity to thank Tim who has let us meet there without charge.)
Labour confirms East Devon seats are NOT part of its election ‘battleground’
Labour has published a full list of its 211 ‘non-battleground’ seats, i.e. the seats they don’t aim to try to win. They include the Honiton & Sidmouth seat (which includes Seaton and Axminster), and also Exmouth and East Exeter.
In these seats, voters who want to get rid of the Tories should back the Liberal Democrats. Voting Labour (or Green) will only split the anti-Tory vote and potentially let the Tory in. Remember that Simon Jupp has jumped ship from Exmouth to stand in our area – he thinks he can win. Let’s make sure he doesn’t – support Richard Foord, our excellent Lib Dem MP!
— Read on labourlist.org/2023/12/labour-seats-candidate-selections-apply-constituencies/
It’s open season on community hospitals – now Okehampton is in the firing line too
Health bosses to offload Okehampton’s empty hospital ward…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2023/12/08/does-this-internal-nhs-market-produce-sensible-decisions/
Simon Jupp fails to back compensation for people who become ill from sewage
Simon Jupp, current MP for Exmouth and Tory candidate for our area, has accused South West Water of carrying out “potentially illegal sewage spills”. Despite making this accusation, our brave MP failed to follow through. He did not support a LibDem amendment to the compensation bill for…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2023/12/07/after-4-years-simon-jupp-wakes-up-but-not-to-the-smell-of-coffee/
Mixed progress on Hospital in meetings with Sarah Wollaston and NHS Devon
The Seaton Hospital Steering Committee had a private meeting with NHS Devon yesterday
Kirstine House, the CEO of the League of Friends, Cllr Paul Arnott, Leader of EDDC, Jack Rowland and I met with Dr Sarah Wollaston and her colleagues from the NHS Devon’s Integrated Care Board yesterday.
- They are proceeding with the transfer of the wing to NHS Property Services on 31 December, but it may take up to 2 years for Property Services to come to a final decision, giving us time to work up our plans.
- Dr Wollaston accepted that they still have a “moral responsibility” for the future of the hospital and the threatened wing – I think all those letters you wrote had an effect.
- NHS Devon agreed an action plan with us in which, in addition to giving us the practical and financial information that we have asked for, they will work with us to facilitate our negotiations with Property Services.
We presented our petitions to NHS Devon at their public Board meeting this morning:
We gathered an incredible 9,150 signatures in barely 3 weeks from a local population of under 15,000. I presented them to Dr Wollaston at County Hall today – Spotlight and ITV West Country News were there, so watch tonight! Thanks to all who signed and, especially, those who leafleted, collected signatures and gave their time to come to Exeter. Dr Wollaston acknowledged the huge community feeling which we have shown in recent weeks.
- I also asked questions and commented at their Board meeting: watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-NRi1_6f0M (first 4 minutes).
- Dr W publicly stated: “we will definitely be working with you as we work with NHS Property Services”.
Next steps: (1) Our Steering Committee will be meeting on Thursday 14th December to discuss how to develop our plan for the space in question. (2) Supporters are invited to a Christmas social evening at the Old Picture House, Harbour Road, at 6.30 on Wednesday 13th December – please email me if you are thinking of coming, so that we have an idea of the numbers. (3) The issue comes back to the Devon Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee on 24th January, which should receive reports from NHS Devon and Property Services.
Yes man Simon Jupp votes against compensation for victims of contaminated blood scandal
The worst scandal in modern NHS history – and East Devon’s Conservative MP Simon Jupp, who wants to be Seaton’s MP after the election, followed the Government line and voted AGAINST compensating victims.
Hundreds cheered Hospital supporters at Friday’s Seaton Carnival
The Hospital supporters who braved the cold to take part in Friday’s procession were cheered by the hundreds of spectators as they passed down Fore Street. Well done to all!
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 