THE mayor of Holsworthy paid a visit to the local community hospital on Tuesday, December 3, to find out more about what services are on offer.

Mayor Cllr Jo Heaven was accompanied by town clerk Vanessa Saunders. They reported back to the full council meeting on Wednesday, December 4, how impressed they had been by what is available at Holsworthy Community Hospital and what ‘excellent work the wonderful staff are doing’.

Cllr Heaven said: “Vanessa and I went to Holsworthy Hospital to look around and I have to say there are some fantastic outpatient services.

“We were shown the jaundice machine which saves young mothers having to go up to Barnstaple if they have had a traumatic or difficult birth. It is an expensive bit of kit but wonderful that we are able to offer that service right here in Holsworthy.”

Hospital staff have recommended a meeting be set up to allow more councillors to visit and see what is offered at the community hospital, an invitation Cllr Heaven implored councillors to accept: “We should take up this opportunity and have a meeting there and give councillors the chance to look around our wonderful hospital and all the things they have got going on there.”

Cllr Nigel Kenneally added: “The fact it is still a hospital and not a clinic is a real positive!”