NON-emergency services at Okehampton's hospitals have been restricted due to the fuel shortage but supplies are getting through to community nurses, midwives and hospital staff, it was confirmed yesterday (Wednesday.)
Locality manager of Okehampton hospitals Jane Barr said essential services were able to be maintained because there was access to fuel for essential users at some local petrol stations.
'The community nurses, midwives and hospital staff are able to get back and forwards from work but some restrictions have been put on non-emergency services such as health visitors and physiotherapy,' she said.
Spokesman for the Westcountry Ambulance Service Darren Gibson said the blockaders were letting oil tankers through specifically for the emergency services and deliveries had already been received.
'Fuel is being bunkered out to local petrol stations and we have supplies at our main stations the nearest of which to Okehampton are Launceston and Exeter, he said.
The local fire service is responding to all 999 calls but all remaining journeys such as fire prevention and hydrant testing have been cancelled.
Mr Donovan said two garages had kept back supplies for the fire brigade but he was checking the situation on a day to day basis.
'This will keep us going in the interim but it depends how protracted the protest is,' he said.