Health bosses permanently close community hospital

Health bosses in Cornwall have decided to permanently close Fowey Hospital after mothballing the facility nine years ago.

Campaigners had launched a bid to save the hospital in March but the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board had now determined it was not viable for healthcare provision.

NHS Property Services, which owns the Fowey Hospital building, and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which owns the gardens, said a decision on the future use of the site had not been made.

The move drew a mixed response from residents when asked by the BBC for their views.

Margaret Gardener she was "very sad about it" but acknowledged the facility had not been operational for nearly a decade.

"They talk about the doctors doing lots of extra things, but I don't know how they manage that because I find it really difficult to get them to answer my phone," she said.

Fellow resident Kevin Rouse, who runs a Cornish brand shop in the town, questioned efforts to keep the hospital open.

"It's six beds and to make it viable you need 16 beds," he said.

"Are they wasting their time protesting":[]}