D DRURY, of Ford Valley, Dartmouth, writes:

I am in favour of reshaping the future of community-based health services. I am not in favour, though, of health ­services coming into our community with a huge axe cutting off the head of a community.

The meeting I attended at the academy was full of ideas and proposals that on paper looked good. The idea of selling off our hospital did not.

It was said our hospital was not fit for purpose and that it did not meet the needs of the disabled.

Our hospital has 16 beds; a kitchen; a lift; great nursing care; and a view of our beautiful river that patients spend time looking at, helping them to recuperate or giving them time to reflect on the past in the last weeks or days of life, giving a feeling of well-being. What more could a hospital give?

The new proposals include having four beds at River View, with the other beds at Totnes, where patients would be alien to where they have lived and where family would find it ­difficult to reach.

There would be a lack of transport, a lack of finances, a longer time spent travelling, transport times may not ­correspond with visiting times. Visiting your loved ones would be affected.

The minor treatment department looks as if it has been ­covered by local GP and ­nursing practitioners. We will have to see. Totnes minor injury unit visits would be unacceptable to patients – 13 miles in traffic could take more than

half an hour. If casualties are injured, their condition could worsen. A frightening situation if anyone is faced with that.

Our health service is unfortunately failing due to demand and cost, but why should local services try to bail out central government.

Selling off our buildings to fund central government for its mismanagement and cutbacks is affecting everything. Selling assets is only a short fix. Our NHS used to be the envy of the world – something needs to change, but why should we pay with closures? River View could only be a short fix.

How much will it cost to get up to being fit for purpose? How much will the rent be annually? Renting long term could be affected if River View is sold.

We were told River View could not be purchased due to cost. If it was sold, money spent would be lost. Patients would have to go elsewhere.

Dartmouth Hospital is secure, being owned by the NHS; there is no rent to pay; it has fantastic nursing care and a GP Service; visiting is easy; it has a fabulous location.

Solution: sell clinic; refurbish Dartmouth Hospital from sale; patients to be housed temporarily at River View; rehouse them to Dartmouth Hospital when complete; travel is averted, ­visiting easier and peace of mind is gained.

Sale of surgery: buy a plot of land at Townstal and rebuild a purpose-built surgery and pharmacy. For a short-term expense, there is a long-term saving.