A controversial plan to merge two of Devon's main hospitals has been given initial approval.

The North Devon Healthcare Trust has formally recommend merging its hospital in Barnstaple with the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, 50 miles away.

The move, which managers say will improve patient care through more efficient use of resources, follows three months of public consultations and meetings.

The final decision on allowing the merger will be taken by Health Secretary Alan Milburn later in the year.

A survey of hospital staff showed opposition

The healthcare trust's board voted 6-3 in favour of the merger.

However, more than 13,000 people in North Devon have already signed a petition opposing it.

Local people fear services will ebb away from north Devon to Exeter.

And they are concerned they may have to make more long journeys to Exeter for treatment.

Councillors in Barnstaple and Bideford have voiced their opposition to the merger.

The local community health council says the consultation has failed to prove that the reorganisation will improve patient care.

And north Devon's MP, Nick Harvey, said he believed it was the wrong decision.

Merger merits

He said: "I'm very disappointed that our own board here haven't taken more notice of the north Devon community.

"One can criticise that their own views, which are deeply held, can take precedence over the views of the community who they had resolved to go out and consult."

Health managers have worked hard to persuade the public of the merits of a merger.

Specialist services

On Monday, managers at the Barnstaple hospital said that if the merger failed to go ahead, the accident and emergency department could close.

A survey of staff at the hospital has revealed that almost 90% are opposed to the idea.

But a majority agreed there was a growing problem of retaining specialist services.

A third of staff took part in the survey.