Craig Davidson, of Clarence Street, Dartmouth, writes:

The planned reorganisation of Dartmouth community health offers a great opportunity.

Along with other interested locals, I attended the public meetings at Dartmouth Academy, Thursday last, about the proposed changes to ­healthcare in Dartmouth and across the South Hams.

The presenters, GP commissioners and senior managers of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust had the ­difficult task of explaining why major change is necessary: an increase in life expectancy with the resultant chronic health problems; an outmoded model of care that has focused on beds in hospital or care homes at the expense of people being ­supported to remain at home; and the continuous drivers of increasing demand – complexity of care, quality improvement and cost.

Although there was understandable hostility to the ­closure of the community hospital in Dartmouth – as ­elsewhere – there was also an appreciation in the audience of the opportunity, made possible by its closure, of combining Dartmouth medical practice, specialist clinics, community nurses and therapists with the voluntary sector, such as Dartmouth Caring, all together in a new health and well-being centre that is proposed to be developed in Townstal.

Importantly, we heard that some nursed beds, particularly for end-of-life care, would also be provided.

Significant problems exist, most importantly the transport links from the town up to the new centre and to Totnes, where the minor injuries unit and X-ray facilities will be ­concentrated.

Reassuringly, a ‘cuts, burns and sprains’ service, currently offered by Dartmouth medical practice, would be developed further.

Sceptics might say, ‘it’s all about the money’, and, ‘it’s a done deal anyway’, but I have hope that, with continued ­public discussion over the next few weeks, a more informed and encouraging response may develop, and that potential solutions will be found to address the outstanding issues. It is in all of our interests to make it so.

The above represents my ­personal perspective. I declare professional experience of developing care in the ­community as a consultant physician, now retired. I am also a publicly elected member of the council of governors of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.