North Devon’s MP has urged all MPs in the region to vote for a Liberal Democrat motion in Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday, April 23) calling for the creation of a ‘crumbling hospitals taskforce’ to help fix the area’s NHS buildings.

During the opposition day debate in Parliament tomorrow, the Lib Dem motion will call on the Government to reverse its decision to delay the New Hospital Programme, which saw 18 of the 40 projects pushed back from the original 2030 deadline.

It also calls for a crumbling hospitals taskforce, which would help fix the ‘crumbling’ NHS estate – in particular, North Devon MP Ian Roome is calling for much needed upgrades and reconstruction of North Devin District Hospital.

This had been on the list of the New Hospital Programme under the previous government but the new Labour Government has said North Devon will now have to wait at least a decade, if not more.

In response to these delays, Mr Roome, wrote an open letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, which gathered more than 6,000 signatures in support.

In advance of tomorrow’s debate, Mr Roome said it would be an opportunity to ‘hold the Government’s feet to the fire’ and put pressure on ministers to speed up the fixing of crumbling hospitals.

He said it would be a ‘dereliction of duty’ for other MPs in Devon to not vote with the Liberal Democrats tomorrow to rescue local health services.

He added: “North Devon District Hospital serves a vast area and, if its services are disrupted, many patients will face a three-hour round trip (or worse) to the next nearest trauma unit in Exeter.

“The neglect of NDDH will have a ripple effect on the entire Devon healthcare system. Both the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Derriford Hospital are already under immense strain and shifting a portion of NDDH’s patient load could have catastrophic consequences.”

“For years patients in our community have had to put up with crumbling hospital buildings, after years of broken promises under the Conservatives. Now the Labour government has failed to deliver the change they promised and kicked the can down the road on fixing our local health services.

“Over 6,000 people have signed my Open Letter to the Health Secretary and I’ve heard from many more who are worried about the impact of these delays. No one should have to worry about crumbling roofs or dilapidated buildings when they are being cared for in hospitals.

“The Liberal Democrats will hold the Government’s feet to the fire on this and put pressure on them to speed up the rebuilding of local hospitals. It is critical that we upgrade our health services so people can finally access the care they deserve. For other MPs in the Devon to fail to back our motion tomorrow would be a complete dereliction of duty.”