Ian Roome MP's Open Letter to Health Secretary Gathers 5,000+ Signatures

North Devon’s Liberal Democrat MP, Ian Roome, has issued an open letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, challenging him to honour his pledge and visit North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) after the announcement of delays to its rebuild.

Within just a few days over 5,000 people added their name to the letter. 

On Monday 21st January, in response to a Parliamentary Question from Ian Roome, MP for North Devon, the Health Secretary West Streeting MP pledged a Ministerial visit to North Devon District Hospital.

Following the announcement that funding for critical infrastructure upgrades on North Devon District Hospital will be delayed until after 2035, Ian Roome MP issued an open letter, inviting the community to lend their support by adding their signatures. In just one day, around 2,500 people across the reason signed. 

In the letter, North Devon’s MP emphasised the urgent need for the funding by pointing out that NDDH is the most remote acute hospital in mainland England and its operating theatres and intensive care (ICU) are nearly 50 years old. He also referenced the Government’s increased housing targets in North Devon and challenged how the hospital could sustain services without the adequate financial support.

Ian Roome MP had already called on the government to release its impact assessment into what the delays to the completion of the project would mean for patients in North Devon and how at risk people being treated at North Devon District Hospital would be without the new building in place.

Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, said:

“I’ve been campaigning for this hospital funding since day one. Having worked alongside staff there for many years myself, I’ve seen firsthand the struggles. The staff are incredible, but without proper facilities, their hands are tied.

“We need Wes Streeting to come and see for himself the high level of infrastructure risk on site. Our community has had enough empty promises. We cannot wait until the planned 2035 date for the essential rebuild of our hospital.”

“We’ve been misled by the former Conservative government and let down again by the new. People in North Devon cannot simply travel to their next nearest hospital. The longer the wait, the bigger the risk to patient safety and the higher the maintenance costs.”