ON April 1 communities across Devon, including Okehampton, will be putting a ‘red line’ around hospitals in order to campaign against government cuts to hospital services.

Following a decision by health bosses to cut all 16 in-patient beds at Okehampton Hospital, campaigners will join the county-wide protest to prevent further hospital cuts by creating a human circle around the hospital whilst wearing red.

This symbolic ‘red line’ will be replicated at various other hospitals across Devon.

Save Our Hospital Services (SOHS) Devon are co-ordinating this public support across the county to oppose NHS England’s Sustainability and Transformation Plan which under the guise of providing a better service will in reality mean a cut of £550-million from Devon’s health spending.

Ian Crawford, spokesperson for SOHS Devon, said: ‘We have been told when it comes to cuts to health services in Devon there are no red lines. We in SOHS say there are red lines and “you can’t fool us”.

‘Dozens of community hospitals across Devon have already lost their beds in the past two or three years. Some very sadly, are being sold off to meet budget deficits and others may have to become health and wellbeing hubs. More yet may be sold off but we are not being told the plans.

‘We think that no hospital must be sold as all community hospitals are essential to provide minor injury support, palliative care with easy access for patients and patient visitors, thereby keeping pressure off the main hospitals which provide acute services and major health treatment.’

Campaigners will hold the red lines around the hospitals to send a clear message to local health service managers, councillors and MPs — that they believe there are red lines and something needs to be done to prevent hospital cuts and closures.