OKEHAMPTON Hospital's minor injuries unit is to keep longer opening hours, following an announcement made by Devon Primary Care Trust this week. A proposal last December to cut the 8am until 10pm opening hours to a later opening time of 10am and earlier closing at 6pm sparked outrage in the community and among members of the medical profession in the Okehampton area. Now, it has been announced that the longer hours will be retained at Okehampton as part of a £1million investment from Devon Primary Care Trust. County council member for Okehampton Christine Marsh, who is also a member of the League of Friends at the hospital, was outspoken in her opposition to the cut in opening hours at the hospital, telling the Times she had been 'horrified' at the news. Cllr Marsh said: 'I am very pleased the longer hours are to be kept. This is a very rural area and these community facilities are absolutely essential.' Cllr Marsh said it was vital that full use should continue to be made of resources which were available at the hospital. Okehampton GP Paul Nielson, who was the driving force behind the campaign to build the new Okehampton Hospital, said he was glad the PCT had seen the sense of retaining longer opening hours for the town's minor injuries unit. Dr Nielson said: 'It would have been ridiculous to close at 6pm. 'What would have happened if you have children coming in with an asthma attack during the evening when doctors are out in their cars and there's no-one there?'
