MORE money is expected to be spent in community hospitals including Tavistock in the future under proposals to change the way health services are delivered, a leading member of the healthcare commissioning group for West Devon said this week. But there is concern in the community that changes, which could mean a new employer for Tavistock Hospital staff, could spell the end of integrated health provision not improve it, if companies are able to bid to run community services for private profit. Next Tuesday (July 8) is the last day for the public to have its say on the framework document 'Integrated, personal and sustainable: community services for the 21st century' following a year of discussions with public, clinical and professional communities about what patients really need. The consultation is being carried out by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (NEW Devon CCG). Ivybridge GP and vice chair of the Western Locality of NEW Devon CCG Dr Stephen Harris said he was aware of concerns locally but people should not be alarmed. 'No decisions have been made on the future of community healthcare services,' he said. 'From 2016 we have to reprocure these services. For the last three years the Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust has been the holding provider of these services and employs the staff at Tavistock Hospital. 'It's been a temporary arrangement and we now need to find a more permanent solution — one that works for everybody.' He said that the Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care Trust and Plymouth Community Healthcare, which was a not-for-profit organisation, would be tendering for the contract, both of which were already established healthcare providers working for the NHS. He said it was unlikely that any private companies would put bids forward but they were entitled to. 'Our aim to to make services more accessible not less and provide more in the community hospitals, added Dr Harris. 'At the moment the majority of the budget for community services is spent in the acute hospitals like Derriford and the Royal Devon and Exeter but we want that to change. 'The acute hospitals are there for people who are really poorly but want to get people who are less poorly into the community hospitals or back at home with a proper care plan. We want to minimise the problems we currently have with discharges from the acute hospitals. 'Community hospitals are creaking with inappropriate stuff. We need to use the beds imaginatively as step up and step down beds from acute care. In the future these hospitals will be strengthened, with more services. We want to bolster them not reduce them.' Martin Quinn from the Tavistock and District Keep Our NHS Public Group said he was concerned about NHS services being put out to competitive tender, including the minor injuries unit, and companies being able to bid for services for private profit. 'We will be urging the CCG to facilitate collaboration between current NHS providers of these services and local NHS acute trusts including Derriford Hospital to provide a fully integrated system of NHS urgent and emergency care,' he said. The NEW Devon CCG's framework document can be found at http://www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk">www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk