Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with NHS England on potential reductions to services at North Devon District Hospital under the emerging Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

Ministers have regular meetings with NHS England and the North, East and West Devon Success Regime to discuss their plans in this area. This work has now been incorporated into the work on the local Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

The Success Regime’s consultation commenced on 7 October regarding community services in East Devon. The consultation sets out options which will ensure there is consistency in the way community services are provided across the county. The aim is to provide the right care first time for people closer to home to avoid being admitted to hospital.

The formal consultation concluded on 6 January 2017 and the next phase of the Success Regime will look at how services are provided in acute hospitals.

The redesign and delivery of frontline health services is a matter for the local National Health Service – clinically led by frontline NHS organisations and clinicians who are closest to the needs of communities and therefore best placed to make decisions in the interests of their patients.

All substantial service reconfiguration proposals must be consulted on, and assured by NHS England taking into account the four reconfiguration tests as mandated by the Government in 2010.