Torbay and South Devon NHS hosts free community health and wellbeing event
The event, organised by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Healthwatch, will bring together NHS teams, community organisations and residents for an afternoon of information, support and conversation, with trust governors hosting an informal drop-in session and the Trust's Annual Members' Meeting taking place from 3pm to 3.45pm.
People across Torbay and South Devon are being invited to a free community health and wellbeing event where they can get expert advice, discover local support services, take part in health checks and conversations, and help shape the future of care closer to home.
The event, organised by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Healthwatch, will take place at Paignton Library from 2pm to 4pm on Wednesday, September 30, bringing together NHS teams, community organisations and residents for an afternoon of information, support and conversation.
A wide range of local health, wellbeing and community support services will be on hand. Visitors will be able to learn more about services including The Harbour frailty service, Torbay Carers Service, Talkworks, community services, NHS screening programmes and the Torbay Sensory Team, alongside advice on healthy ageing, oral health and NHS Health Checks and support available in local communities.
Trust governors will also host an informal drop-in session during the afternoon for anyone who would like to share feedback, ask questions or learn more about the role of governors.
The Trust's Annual Members' Meeting will take place from 3pm to 3:45pm, and people can either watch it in person, subject to room capacity, or online, with a separate viewing room available in the library for anyone who cannot be accommodated in the main meeting room. Anyone wanting a link to watch online can contact the Foundation Trust Office at [email protected] or by calling 01803 655406, or visit tsdft.uk/amm. The meeting link will be sent out 24 hours in advance. Questions for the meeting should be submitted in advance by emailing [email protected] by 5pm on Monday, September 28.
Alongside the main event, the Trust will host a series of small-group neighbourhood conversations from 12noon to 3pm, forming part of an early listening and learning phase intended to help understand people's experiences of health, care and community support, what matters most to them, and what helps people stay healthy, independent and connected within their communities. Each conversation will last around 45 to 60 minutes and will use a fictional case study to prompt discussion, with organisers stressing these are early listening conversations rather than a consultation on a set of proposals or a fixed plan. The discussions will focus on six themes: frailty and falls, cardiovascular health, diabetes, end of life care, respiratory health, and children and young people with long-term health conditions.
Places for the neighbourhood conversations must be booked in advance and will not be available as drop-in sessions on the day. People wishing to take part should register their interest by 5pm on Friday, September 25, by emailing [email protected], stating which discussion group they would like to attend and a brief explanation of why the topic is important to them. As there are limited spaces in each themed group, places will be allocated to ensure a broad range of lived experience and viewpoints.
Dr Martin Beaman, Chair of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This event is a great opportunity for people to access practical health information and support, meet the teams and organisations working in their communities, and learn more about the services available across Torbay and South Devon.
"We also want to hear from people with a wide range of experiences, whether as patients, carers, family members, volunteers or members of the community. Listening to people's experiences and understanding what matters most to them will help inform our thinking as we continue to develop our neighbourhood approach alongside our partners."
Dr Kevin Dixon, Chair of Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, said: "We're pleased to support this event, which is a valuable opportunity for people to access practical health and wellbeing advice, meet local services and share what matters to them. Holding conversations like this in community spaces such as Paignton Library and Paignton Community Hub helps make it easier for people to have their say, especially those who may not usually attend formal NHS meetings.
"We would encourage residents across Torbay and South Devon to come along, ask questions and help shape how care closer to home develops in their communities."