FURTHER to your front page (February 12) heroics of the fire brigade and midwifery services who delivered twins under very difficult circumstances, I would like to congratulate all services involved.
Midwifery service has gone from strength to strength in Okehampton as a result of the energy of all team members, expertly led by Elizabeth Jeffrey, the senior midwife.
This unit could well have been closed several years ago as deliveries were falling, but due to the energy of the staff, the numbers of deliveries have increased and the service is of high quality and demonstrates gold standard excellence.
That cannot be said of the care of the elderly confused as the unit is now being closed. This also, when the new hospital was built, was regarded as a very important service — the care of our elderly and confused.
These are our most dispossessed patients — they do not have a voice, it is the voice of their carers, relatives and the public who ensure their safety and the quality of service.
David Hodge produced a gold standard service at the Castle Hospital, and on its transfer to the new Okehampton Hospital.
It is therefore regrettable that those with the least voice have now lost an extremely valuable service.
I do impress on all members of the public in Okehampton to demand that this service is kept open and to be returned to its previous high standard. I ask you to write to your MP and Dr Kevin Snee, the chief executive of Devon PCT. This is a potential tragedy and our patients are going to be left at a considerable disadvantage.
The misery of Alzheimer's and dementia cannot be underestimated and when we lose a gold standard service this can only be compounded.
The numbers of patients suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia will only increase over the next 20 to 30 years and one feels for them as their service provision is reduced.
Dr Paul Nielson
General Practitioner
Holsworthy Surgery