The inpatient department at Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Community Hospital will be closed from Sunday 30 August for a period of two weeks to carry out urgent repairs to the flooring and drainage system.

During this time, the 10 inpatient beds at the hospital will be relocated to Newton Abbot Community Hospital to ensure that the overall provision of community beds in the area remains unaffected.

The hospital was built in the late 1800s and over time, some parts of the drainage infrastructure underneath the inpatient department have become unable to adequately cope with modern usage, which has led to problems with the flooring. These essential works will ensure the hospital is fit to meet future needs.

The level of noise, dust and disruption anticipated is unacceptable for an occupied patient environment, therefore it is absolutely necessary and in the best interests of our patients, to move the beds to nearby Newton Abbot.

The Trust will be using this as an opportunity to also carry out some other remedial works and improvements to the flooring in all of the inpatient area, nurses station and corridor so that no future disruption is necessary.

The extensive works are expected to be complete by Sunday 13 September.

The Trust would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank staff and patients for their understanding.