Foord slams ‘feeble’ Govt response to Seaton Hospital petition

Seaton’s Liberal Democrat MP has hit out at the Conservative Government for failing to agree to act to save Seaton Community Hospital, in response to a petition signed by more than 9,000 Axe Valley residents.

Towards the end of last year, it emerged that Devon’s Integrated Care Board was looking to transfer a whole wing of the Seaton facility over to NHS Devon. This put the facility at risk of being sold off and even demolished.

This decision caused a huge uproar from the local community, who raised the money to build the ward in the first place. In the wake of the plans becoming public, Richard Foord MP has been working with the Seaton and District League of Friends and other community groups to oppose the plans.

Earlier this month, Mr Foord presented a petition to Parliament calling for the Government to act to protect Seaton Hospital. The petition garnered the support of more than 9,000 people and required the Government to respond to it.

However, in their response to the petition, the Department of Health and Social Care declined to take any action – instead stating: “The Government believes that ICBs are best placed to make decisions on commissioning services…”

Richard Foord MP has called the response ‘feeble’ made up of ‘weasel words’, highlighting that the ultimate power to act to change the situation facing Seaton Hospital rests with the Conservative Health Secretary.

Mr Foord has secured a debate in Parliament on Friday on the accountability of NHS Property Services by the Government, in which he plans to push Ministers to come clean on the exact arrangements regarding how it is overseen by the Department for Health and Social Care.

Commenting, Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord said:

“When I presented our petition to Parliament, backed by over 9,000 local people, I hoped it would be a wake-up call for the Government – that it would finally spur them to sit up and take notice. Sadly, they continue to take us for granted.

“Their response to the calls from our community is insulting, frankly. Rather than face up to the influence they could exercise, the Government in London is instead content to hide behind weasel words, once again trying to pass the buck to anyone but themselves.

“This is feeble. With a single stroke of her pen, the Conservative Health Secretary could change the rental framework and enable this community-funded wing to be let at a reasonable price. This would enable us to save it from sale, or even demolition, and repurpose it as a new Care Hub.

“The Conservatives’ talk is cheap. They have repeatedly failed to listen to the voices of our community and are desperate to blame anyone but themselves. I will continue to fight to get real change so we can protect the future of Seaton Hospital.”