A HEALTH fayre will mark the end of the South Hams and West Devon NHS Primary Care Trust's first year as a trust.
The primary care group, which manages Tavistock and four other community hospitals, was the first in Devon to become a trust last October and it is celebrating with another first — a health fayre with interactive exhibition stands and demonstrations.
The event is being planned to coincide with the annual meeting on September 26 at South Dartmoor Leisure Centre, Ivybridge.
West Devon resident Sally Foxhall, who is the board chair of the trust, said this had been 'a very important first year'.
'We have established our teams to manage primary and community health services and begun to review the targets set by the Government within its ten-year plan for modernising the NHS,' she said.
'We need to understand and meet the particular needs of a large rural population and make sure that local health care services are responsive.'
The chief executive, Alan Tibbenham, said the main reason for becoming a trust was to involve community nurses, doctors and health care staff to improve the health of the residents and to develop more locally-based services and buy in appropriate services for patients from local hospitals.
'For the first time ever, your GP is helping us to change how health care services are provided and delivered to patients,' Mr Tibbenham added.
Lynne Spencer, health improvement manager for the trust, said the September health fayre would provide a whole range of varied information about the trust.
'If you are interested in local health care and how the services are managed, the PCT would welcome your views on the day or over the coming months on modernising and improving services,' she said.
The trust can be contacted on 01803 866665.