Last night BBC Spotlight reported that campaigners had been successful in convincing Devon County Council’s health Scrutiny Committee to ask for a reconsideration of plans to demolish a wing of Seaton Hospital. This has been left empty for six years at a “cost” of  £1.8m years [transfer of funds from Devon to central NHS coffers – Owl], but could have been used for providing health services. 

The Scrutiny Committe has asked that the Integrated Care Board and NHS Property Services discuss how to use it for health services and provide a report for their next meeting in January. Meanwhile they have asked for the plan to “dispose” of the wing to be paused.

Teignmouth campaigners also convinced the committee to appeal to the Health Secretary against closing their hospital.

A fuller account will follow.