In November 2016, Dartmouth and Kingswear Hospital was rated C by the clinical commissioning group.

This rating also applied to Ashburton, subsequently closed; Bovey Tracey, closed; and Paignton, closed.

In our case, the CCG consultation team said the option was either to close the hospital or spend £2.5m to bring it up to the same standard as those other hospitals kept open: Totnes, rated B; Brixham, B; and Newton Abbot, A.

The hospital was subsequently closed due to the River View option which has now failed.

The trust and CCG are now proposing a new health and well-being centre somewhere in Townstal – at a cost of £5m. This is twice the cost of refurbishing the hospital.

I think I know what the majority of the town would like, especially as refurbishment would save the NHS £2.5m.

This solution should satisfy the CCG and would go down exceedingly well with the town.

Edmund Cranmer

Broadstone, Dartmouth