Lib Dem leader calls for upgrades to North Devon hospital

The outdated facility is “overwhelming”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey believes North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) has one of the strongest cases for investment in the country, given its remoteness.

Speaking during a visit to Bideford last week he said the case to triple the number of operating theatres and modernise the outdated facility is “overwhelming” and health ministers need to visit urgently to see for themselves.

Sir Ed, who was given a tour of the Barnstaple hospital in October along with North Devon Liberal Democrat MP and long standing health campaigner Ian Roome, said he was “genuinely shocked” to see the state of some of the buildings, which are more than 50 years old, and to hear from some of the doctors and the managers that they were “under such strain”.

But the government’s implementation of a new hospitals’ programme, first announced by the Conservatives to complete 40 rebuilds by 2030 but later scaled back under Labour to save money, means that NDDH won’t get a new clinical care building for at least 10 years.

More than 6,000 people have signed an open letter to health secretary Wes Streeting in support of the hospital, which claims to be the remotest acute facility in mainland England.

Mr Roome pushed prime minister Keir Starmer again for a ministerial visit to North Devon earlier this month.

He has called for the government to discuss emergency plans to keep the current operating theatres, which some suggest are near their ‘sell-by’ date, open beyond 2027 to meet capacity.

The hospital also needs eight new intensive care beds. Local officials say there are so many bolt-ons and modular units added to the buildings there is no room for more.

Mr Starmer confirmed that minister for secondary care Karin Smyth would visit and that the government would continue to support the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to maintain facilities in advance of any new hospital investment.

Sir Ed Davey said it is vital that ministers see NDDH for themselves: “They have not got anywhere near enough operating theatres. There are four and the numbers of patients say they need 12, and the ones they have need modernisation and improvement.

He praised Mr Roome for raising the issue mant times at Prime Minister’s Questions: “When ministers come here they will realise the case for major investment and a modernised rebuild of North Devon District Hospital is overwhelming; one of the strongest in the country. It’s certainly one of the strongest I have ever seen.

“What really struck me is the geography. This is most remote hospital in the country. People have to travel a long way and getting staff can be an issue. If we don’t get that investment soon, it could really undermine the whole health service in North Devon and North Cornwall because a lot of people from North Cornwall use the hospital, of course.”

Mr Roome said he had been contacted by countless patients and NHS staff,  worried about the hospital’s future.

“Some constituents in Lynton, for example, would be looking at a nine-hour round trip by public transport to reach the next nearest hospital in Exeter. That’s unacceptable.”

He said as well as being 30 years overdue for an upgrade, the hospital faces demand from an ageing population and the government’s new housing targets, which set out a minimum increase of 6,500 homes over the next five years.

Sir Ed was visiting Devon and Cornwall last week to support Liberal Democrat candidates in the Devon County Council elections on Thursday 1 May.