CAMPAIGNERS staging their last ditch battle to save Teignmouth Hospital will be out in force tomorrow ahead of a crunch meeting at Devon County Council.

The Save Teignmouth Hospital supporters will be at Teignmouth Market as part of their ongoing fight to keep the Mill Lane hospital, the first NHS hospital to be built in the country, open.

Teignbridge Councillors have already unanimously backed a direct appeal to the Health Secretary Steve Barclay to review the closure decision in light of the pressures on acute hospitals.

Next week, Devon County Council’s Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny committee will meet at County Hall in Exeter. 

The committee has the legal power to refer the decision to close Teignmouth Hospital to the Health Secretary. 

A letter has already been sent by Teignbridge District Council’s chief executive Phil Shears to Mr Barclay following authority members agreement saying the closure ‘represents a serious error of judgement’.

It explained that councillors unanimously passed a motion urging a review of the closure plans ‘mindful of the pressures on local acute hospitals through delayed discharges to other appropriate provision’.

Subsequently, Teignmouth Town Council, Shaldon Parish Council and Bishopsteignton Parish Council have added their support. 

Save Teignmouth Hospital campaigners are hoping to organise a bus to take supporters to County Hall on Tuesday to lobby county councillors ahead of the committee meeting.