PUBLIC consultation on proposals to reform the way health services are delivered in Devon will be the focus of a review by Devon County Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

The proposals from NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are part of their Transforming Community Services programme.  A major consultation is now underway, and Devon County Council's health and wellbeing scrutiny committee will oversee this process.

The purpose of the Transforming Community Services (TCS) Programme is to set the strategic direction, design and delivery for community services in the area covered by NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Following extensive engagement and national policy and local health needs, the Strategic Framework 'Integrated, personal and sustainable: Community services for the 21st Century' has now been agreed. This provides the strategic vision for the next five years and beyond.

The Framework sets out the need for change, focusing on three main themes of preventive and personalised support, pathways for people with complex health needs and urgent care in the community. 

The engagement process just being launched will seek to consult the public on more detailed proposals set out the next layer of detail in the TCS programme, which aim to develop preventive services, achieving care at home and the future role of community services including community hospitals.

At their meeting on September 18, the scrutiny committee considered the process and key themes of engagement on the commissioning proposals for CCG locality areas in Northern, Eastern and Southern Devon.  The period of engagement will involve and consult with patients, carers, communities and stakeholders before decisions are made. There will also be opportunities for the committee to examine these proposals and the outcomes of the consultation process in more detail. 

Health and wellbeing scrutiny vice chairman Debo Sellis said: 'It is clear that there are significant changes ahead in how the Clinical Commissioning Group will be managing care delivery, access to services and future health care development.

'Public Health sits with our local authority and the drive and emphasis to promote and support the TCS will place much store in preventing disease and championing health and wellbeing right across the board.

'The Health and Wellbeing  Overview and Scrutiny Committee will examine many areas; however,  residents of Devon have an opportunity to find out more and to submit comment.'

Devon Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee will consider the contents of the locality proposals published at their next meeting on 17 November, where feedback received from the process to date will be given.