Hospital could become new health hub

Moretonhampstead Community Hospital is currently owned by National Health Property Services (NHSPS) with part leased to Moretonhampstead Development Trust and part to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E) for their community health therapists and nurses.

Going forward, the hospital space won’t be needed so much by RD&E, so the vision of Moretonhampstead Development Trust and local GP Dr Tom Waterfall is to make the hospital a community health hub. This would include space for GPs and community nurses to offer clinical services, and the office of North East Dartmoor Care (NEDCare), but also space for local community projects. Organisations such as Knead to Connect, who aim to create connections through food and local youth theatre company MED Theatre are planning to be situated in the hospital - and the garden at the rear of the hospital will be connected with the community allotments.

The next step will be to involve the community in a consultation to clarify what services would be most useful to them, and to confirm whether the project is financially viable. Moretonhampstead Development Trust have put forward a proposal to conduct a feasibility study, and hope to have a positive response to this.

To find out more about the vision for the hospital or to put your thoughts forward, please email katie@wellmoor.org.uk