On May 30, Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, stated that he wanted smaller community hospitals to be used more, as patients, especially the elderly, would be treated nearer to their homes.
Devizes hospital is a small community hospital. It has two unused wards, behind locked doors. These wards have all the infrastructure and facilities in place, which could be used for rehabilitation, short stay care and treatment referred to in his statement.
It would solve the problems of travelling and the expenses incurred by patients and their visitors. We have the site, the building, the wards, the infrastructure and the patients, so Devizes ticks all the boxes.
We appeal to the hierarchy to listen to us and return the hospital to the people of the town.
Coun Jane J M Burton, Secretary, Devizes and District Community Hospital League of Friends.
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