THE former Matron of Holsworthy Community Hospital has returned to implement a plan to re-open the beds, which were temporarily closed back in March 2017.

The news was announced during a meeting of the Holsworthy Community Involvement Group (HCIG). HCIG was set up by the NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon (NEW Devon) clinical commissioning group (CCG) to better understand the area’s health and social care needs. It is made up of local people, community leaders and representatives with support from the NHS.

During the meeting, health and social care manager Gary Patch informed the group that the community matron would be based in the town’s hospital and across the Barnstaple site.

The Matron will oversee an ‘implementation plan’ to reopen the beds whilst undertaking her current role part-time. He assured the group however that the Matron’s priority will be the reopening of the Holsworthy beds.

Work to assess staffing needs has already begun, and discussions with staff and local GP practices are underway. Further updates will be made to the group in due course.

The meeting marked the third week in a project expected to last a minimum of 12 weeks. Following its meeting in July (week six) the group decided to deliver leaflets door-to-door in Holsworthy and the surrounding parishes to encourage people to have their say over local services.

The meeting heard 6,500 leaflets will be delivered to homes from the end of August. The leaflet is to be funded by the League of Friends after an application from the group.

The leaflet will be advertising a survey created by the group, which will ask people about the eight priority areas identified: Loneliness/social isolation; End of life care; Support for carers and families; Holsworthy Hospital services; Services for young people and children; Services within a person’s own home; Health information; Travel and transport.

The survey is online but paper copies will be made available from town and parish councils as well. The survey will be live for approximately three weeks. Once returned and analysed more in-depth work will take place with groups in the area to better understand the issues identified.

Once it understands this, the group will make recommendations in the form of a final report to be presented to the CCG.

Cllr Barry Parsons, who represents Holsworthy rural on Devon County Council and is a member of the group, said: “The NHS has said that it recognises that the town is in a remote location and that a bespoke solution to health and social care needs is necessary to address the issues we face.

“Much of this is hidden. Unpaid carers spend hours helping others in our community and this often goes unrecognised. The work of the 37-strong community health and care teams to care for people in their own homes is similarly overlooked. But they both work tirelessly day in, day out for our neighbours, friends and relatives. We want to understand people’s needs so that we can make wider recommendations to the NHS as to what serves our community needs.”

The group also received an update on the implementation plan to reopen the hospital’s inpatient beds. It was reported that there has been good discussion with local GPs but owing to recruitment concerns, beds were unlikely to be opened until December.

However, this remains in line with the implementation plan.

After 12 weeks the group will make recommendations to the CCG about future health and care needs in the area. These recommendations, along with clinical, financial and logistical considerations, will be used to inform decisions about future services for wider community consideration — this may be subject to consultation.

The CCG previously said it recognises the town is in a remote location and a bespoke solution to health and social care needs in the community is necessary to address the challenges it faces.

The latest meeting of HCIG was on Tuesday, August 7 (week seven).

Updates were given on the first meeting of the clinical advisory project group, who are responsible for advising the HCIG on the clinical aspects and dimension of the continuing healthcare needs of the community.

The group assured efforts will continue to find medical cover to reopen Holsworthy hospital’s inpatient beds.

The next meeting of the group will take place on Tuesday, August 21.To view the survey visit: http://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Holsworthyarea