Gerald Lavers, chairman of Teignmouth Hospital League of Friends, writes:

On behalf of Teignmouth Hospital League of Friends, can I thank you for the space and opportunity for individuals to express their disquiet, regarding the proposed changes to facilities at Teignmouth Hospital, over the preceding months.

I will, however, take issue with your recent article which although accurately based upon information disseminated by Devon Healthwatch Devon and the CCG, is in the view of an 'Option 3 Group' (comprising local doctors, councillors, interested parties and the league of friends) based upon a false premise.

One of the first topics a GCSE student of statistics looks at is the Collection of Data. Any survey must not introduce a bias which would affect the outcome of a survey (Statistics 2nd ed. W.M.Harper).

The initial questionnaire produced/provided by Devon Healthwatch Devon presented only two options to choose from. These options were diametrically opposed, one being a 'Hobson's Choice' – the deathblow to both the MIU and medical beds at Teignmouth Hospital – who in their right mind would vote for this? Providing just the two options, meant that outcome of the survey would produce the required (favoured) outcome of the CCG.

The option 3 group were/still are looking at an alternative option which would maintain Teignmouth Hospital as a 'hospital' not a glorified 'clinic'. An outline proposal was submitted to the CCG/Healthwatch, prior to the 'cut-off' time.

The CCG's response to the survey and the consultation, resulted in the subsequent identification of 14-plus alternative options and suggestions, to be evaluated! Surely any organisation would first establish all possible options prior to any survey being produced, but admittedly, results would be less easy to manipulate, in order to get the required outcome.

Any intelligent individual who came across the initial survey would note that there could only be one alternative to choose ie. option 1, given the two available. Those who considered that neither was the correct one could/would not complete the survey – being no space to identify any alternative solution.

I can assure you that the 'option 3' group will continue to advocate an alternative choice, one indeed may well be similar to one of the 14-plus now identified by the CCG themselves!

I am sure this debate will continue for some time and certainly the league of friends would hope that sanity will return.