CENTRAL DEVON MP Mel Stride visited Okehampton Hospital last Saturday where he met with hospital representatives and health bosses to discuss future service provision.

Mr Stride met with representatives from NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Okehampton Hospital and to discuss the hospital’s future.

Mr Stride has criticised the CCG for their lack of engagement with local Okehampton stakeholders regarding the services that could be introduced locally as part of the hospital’s designation as a health and wellbeing centre.

Mr Stride’s visit to the hospital follows his recent discussions with the chair of the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Tim Burke.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Stride said: ‘It is essential that residents in Okehampton and the surrounding area are properly and fully consulted on future services and the CCG agreed at the meeting that this must now be a top priority.

‘Devon County Councillor Kevin Ball has organised a meeting locally for July 25, which is a start but I made it clear to the meeting that we need to see the CCG demonstrating a far more energetic approach to engagement than we have seen to date.

‘There is the potential for some really positive new services for local people but I want to ensure that the community is given the opportunity to play its part in shaping them.’

West Devon Borough Cllr Mike Davies, who has campaigned alongside Mr Stride for improved local health services, added: ‘Mel is right that we need a proper consultation with residents and stakeholders to begin as soon as possible. When the in-patient beds were recommended for closure, there was very limited opportunity for local input and it is essential this doesn’t happen again.’