Don’t miss your chance to ask questions on the NHS consultation in Teignmouth and Dawlish at the final online public meetings

Local people can quiz local doctors and senior NHS managers during the final online public meetings as part of a consultation on services in the Teignmouth and Dawlish area.

Between 1 September and 26 October 2020, Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is asking people to consider its proposal for local services in Teignmouth and Dawlish, given that a new £8million Health and Wellbeing Centre is due to be built in the heart of Teignmouth.

As well as sending the consultation document to thousands of houses in the Teignmouth and Dawlish area, local people have been invited to attend a series of online public meetings where they can find out about the NHS proposal and ask questions of a panel. With COVID-19 still present, the NHS is providing safe and convenient ways for local people to have their say.

The final two meetings take place on:

• Monday 5 October, 11.30am – 1pm

• Saturday 17 October, 11am – 12.30pm

  Joining is easy and a full guide is available on Devon CCG’s website, where you can also watch recordings of the previous four online public meetings.

  Anyone who hasn’t got the internet can call 0800 0520 029 for free Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, with queries or to ask to speak to someone from the NHS. You can also phone to request copies of the consultation document and survey to be sent to you.

  Dr Paul Johnson, clinical chair of Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “The meetings are simple to join and we are listening carefully to what everyone has to say about our proposal.

  “Topics at recent online public meetings have included travel, parking and the impact of COVID-19.”

People are also being encourage to share their views by filling in the feedback survey online or returning the form in the consultation document by 26 October 2020.

About the consultation

Devon CCG is asking people to consider its proposal for moving services from Teignmouth Community Hospital, given that a new £8million Health and Wellbeing Centre is due to be built in the heart of Teignmouth.

The centre will bring GP services, community health and care and voluntary sector services together under one roof in the centre of town, meaning that care can be much more easily coordinated for each patient.

Teignmouth’s biggest GP Practice, Channel View Medical Group, will move into the Health and Wellbeing Centre, saying it will help them attract new doctors and nurses – something that has recently been difficult.

The CCG is proposing to move the most highly-used community clinics – podiatry, physiotherapy and audiology – from Teignmouth Community Hospital into the new centre, along with consultant-led ear nose and throat clinics.

The CCG proposes that all other clinics and day case procedures move from Teignmouth Community Hospital to Dawlish Community Hospital, four miles away.

And it proposes to reverse an earlier decision to provide 12 rehabilitation beds at Teignmouth Community Hospital, saying successful community services have made them unnecessary.

If the proposal is approved, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust says it would no longer need Teignmouth Community Hospital and would be likely to sell it so the proceeds could be reinvested in the local NHS.

Local groups can request that the NHS attends their community meeting to present the proposal and gather feedback

There is full information on the proposal online at www.devonccg.nhs.uk/teignmouth- and-dawlish

People can also email questions and queries to engagement@hwdevon-plymouth- torbay.org

A browsealoud version of the consultation document, as well as a downloadable audio file, are also available from the CCG website. An Easy Read version is also available.

Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay is an independent patient champion for health and social care. It will be scrutinising the consultation process and will receive, evaluate and report on all feedback received.