Teignmouth and Dawlish people urged to join online discussion on health services

There’s still time to join one last online discussion and ask questions about a proposal for changing the way health services are delivered in the Teignmouth and Dawlish area.

That’s the message from the NHS in Devon as its formal consultation on reshaping community services passes the halfway mark.

The consultation, which started on 1 September, will end on 26 October, and – alongside a host of other ways to take part - there is still one to go of the six online discussion events that have been scheduled.

The latest is on Saturday 17 October at 11am to 12.30pm – the first to be held at the weekend.

The proposal focuses on joining up services to provide coordinated care. A new, £8million Health and Wellbeing Centre is planned for the heart of Teignmouth to house the Channel View GP practice alongside the voluntary sector, pharmacy and a wide range of health and care professionals.

Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is proposing to move the most frequently-used community clinics - podiatry, physiotherapy and audiology – from Teignmouth Community Hospital to the new centre, along with the specialist ear, nose and throat clinic.

Other specialist clinics, which are used by people across South Devon, would move to Dawlish Community Hospital under the CCG’s proposal.

And an earlier decision to instal 12 rehabilitation beds at Teignmouth Community Hospital, overseen by physiotherapists, would be reversed.

Dr Paul Johnson, chair of Devon CCG said: “We strongly encourage people to take the opportunity to register their views on our proposal.

“While COVID-19 has meant we have not had public meetings, the online discussions have given people a chance to ask questions or air their views. It’s a new way of holding an open meeting and we are pleased at the way people have joined us to put forward their own ideas and comments. Do join us if you can.”

Those who cannot take part in the discussion events can still ask for a telephone conversation, or simply fill in the questionnaire online or on paper. Any queries can be addressed to Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay on 0800-0520-029 Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. Find more information atwww.devonccg.nhs.uk/teignmouth-and-dawlish